HOWARD COUNTY, Md. — A year after creating a school safety task force, Howard County Public Schools (HCPS) officials plan to add more security features to its schools.
Plans include adding integrated buzzers, visitor badging, video surveillance and communication systems to all elementary schools by the end of the year. By spring 2014, the district will begin full security system installation at all middle schools. Meanwhile, high schools will receive an automated visitor management system by July 2014, Baltimore Sun reports.
Other measures in the school safety task force’s action plan include expanding the number of safe indoor spaces in case of a potential lockdown and adding magnetic card access points for portable classrooms. The district also wants to provide training to teachers and staff on security protocols and emergency procedures, and improving communication about existing mental health supports in the school system.
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