ITHACA, NY. – Ithaca Public Schools’ Board of Education has approved spending $15,000 on improving security at its three district schools, which include the North and South elementary schools and its high school-middle school compound.
An access control system will require visitors to use swipe cards instead of keys to gain access to the buildings. The programmable system will also permit school officials to take advantage of the automated lock and unlock feature, as well as keep track of what time the swipe cards are used and by whom. Officials will also be able to initiate a lockdown procedure using the system.
Another improvement to security at the school district will be the implementation of camera phones at each building’s main entrance. The main office will have access to pictures generated by the camera phones, allowing them to see anyone wishing to gain access to the building. This feature is especially desired at South Elementary and the High School, says Superintendent Charles Schnetzler, because with the new equipment, anyone entering these buildings will not be required to go by the main office.