Spartans Secured...By The Best!

Written by: Elise Kerim

Like most students now, Sparta High School security guards Mr. Dan Zill and Mr. Scott Sullivan (widely known and appreciated in the building by their first names) were once just figuring things out. Dan went to the army straight after high school, whereas Scott went to college, but took a break in his second year to join the Police Academy. Eventually, he went back to earn both his Bachelors and Masters in Criminal Justice.

After he retired as a lieutenant from the Vernon Township Police Department after 28 years, Dan knew he would eventually need something to do, but was out of work and not planning to work. He soon received a phone call from his peer, Officer Drossel, about a security position at Sparta High School and decided to apply. Currently, Dan is in the building from 6:30 - 2:30 to monitor the activity in the morning with buses and in the cafeteria and his big thing, checking to ensure no doors are open.

Mr. Dan Zill, SHS Security

Scott is in the building to 8:30 - 4:30 everyday, staying an additional two hours with after school activities. Scott also retired as a lieutenant from the North Bergen Police Department - but before he applied, he made sure to ask his son, Steven, a senior at Sparta, if it would be alright with him if his dad worked in the same building where he went to school. "Sparta High School is a great school. [Steven] didn't feel it would be a problem."

As a parent in the Sparta School district, Scott already knew a large amount of the students, especially those in the senior class. He looked at me and laughed, "I bet you don't even remember that I was your chaperone for your 8th grade Washington, D.C trip!"

Mr. Scott Sullivan, SHS Security 

The two are constantly on call and monitor building activity as they patrol the school and make sure everyone is safe. Scott said, "Something kids constantly get wrong about our job and should know about us, is that we aren't here to get students in trouble." He continued, "We see things kids are about to do, and we tell them to knock it off before they actually get in trouble with administration." Dan seemed to agree, stating that they've stopped many altercations between students before it gets worse so they aren't subject to administrative action. "You'd be surprised how many times we get students back to class before they get written up." If either of the security guards see students in the hallway for a prolonged period of time, then naturally, they will send the student back to class.

And the biggest issue in high school students today? You may have already guessed it, and they agree: vaping. Scott said, "Students have no idea, nor do doctors have the full idea yet, on what vaping is going to do to your health in the long run."
When finding students vape devices in school, Dan reported that back in September, he found one everyday for a streak of eight days. He isn't sure if students have cut back, or if they've just gotten more sneaky, but he did report that students who are caught vaping on school grounds will automatically will get drug tested.

It is evident that these two put the safety and well being of Sparta students first and foremost. When students were filing back into the building during a recent evacuation drill, Scott escorted students to cross the street. An older woman in a car asked him why "kids who think they are privileged" were allowed to cross the street and not letting her pass - "I told her that for the safety of the children, this was the most appropriate protocol and she would be able to go as soon as every single student had crossed the street." But, the woman was still furious when it came to the safety of the Sparta students. Scott continued with, "Other faculty members noticed me speaking to the woman and called over Mr.Stoner to see if he could talk some sense into her. She really was so upset about you guys crossing the street!"

Above all, the security guards, along with the rest of the staff at Sparta High School, want to make sure students are being safe and smart inside and outside of school. Scott wants students to, "just pay attention. Always be aware of your surroundings."
A big thing for DAN? "Don't open the doors. Even if you know who it is - you don't know what they may have just done."