The City Council is on the verge of passing a law requiring alarms on exit doors at public schools to prevent tragedies like the disappearance and death of student Avonte Oquendo.
The Council plans to approve “Avonte’s Law” on Thursday after it clears its education committee on Wednesday, officials said.
Mayor de Blasio is expected to sign the measure into law.
Avonte, 14, who was autistic, slipped out of a side door at his school in Long Island City, Queens, undetected in October and was missing until found dead in January.
Since then, at least seven other students, some as young as 4, have walked out of school buildings.
“Avonte’s Law will make our educational facilities safer for students and give parents the peace of mind they deserve when they send their children to school for the day,” said Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
In May, The Post reported that parent activists — as well as the bill’s sponsor — were complaining that the Council was dragging its feet on the measure because of opposition from the Department of Education and concerns raised by the teachers union.
Council officials denied that the bill was being bottled up. It has the support 47 of the 51 council members.Now, everybody appears to be on board following weeks of negotiations on a revised measure.
Under the compromise, the DOE will have until May 30 of next year — rather than the end of this year — to issue a report to the Council on where alarms are to be installed and provide a schedule for doing so.
Brooklyn Councilman Robert Cornegy, the chief sponsor, and other Council officials will meet with DOE brass in October to discuss the criteria to determine which schools will be selected.
The bill requires that audio alarms be placed on doors at pre-K-to-grade 5 schools as well as District 75 facilities serving students with special needs.
“Such alarms should provide an audible alert indicating an unauthorized departure from the school building,” the bill states.
The law also will require that the DOE issue a report by May 30 on new or revised student safety protocols for school staffers to help prevent disappearances.
“Council member Cornegy is extremely grateful for the works of the Parents’ Union and all the advocates & Council members who have worked to advance this legislation,” said Cornegy legislative director Dynishal Gross.
Said Mona Davids of the Parents Union, “This is a victory for our children and parents. Avonte’s Law will help insure our children are safe when they are in school.”