Monday marks the first full week of school for students across New York City. 

Greg Floyd, president of Local 237, spoke to NY1’s Dean Meminger Sunday evening about school safety and how to prevent violence in public schools. 

“This is not the way to begin the school year,” he said in response to recent shootings near schools.

A 15-year-old Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School student was killed after being shot in the abdomen blocks from his school, according to police.

On Friday, sources told NY1 a 17-year-old student was shot not far from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn.

According to Floyd, there are 2,000 fewer school safety agents than before the pandemic in 2019.

The city’s Schools Chancellor David Banks announced earlier last week a new safety plan that included hiring more school safety agents.

According to Floyd, there instances last school year of children being randomly shot outside of schools.

“That’s where our problem is: outside,” he added.

His message to parents and students: “We need them to protect our students and we want them there.”