The School Security Upgrades Keep Coming

Here’s the latest round of improvements to school security from around the nation.

In Mason, Ohio, the district installed video intercoms at the front doors of schools, allowing the receptionist to screen visitors before letting them enter the building, reports WCPO. The system cost $35,000.

Papillion-La Vista Public Schools in La Vista, Neb., as well as Gretna Public Schools have also installed video buzzer systems to screen campus guests, reports Omaha.com. Additionally, officials in Millard Public Schools are planning to install similar systems. Gretna school buses will now be tracked with GPS, and students will be required to swipe their cards to monitor when they come on board and exit a bus.

The Region 16 Board of Education in Prospect, Conn., wants to spend about $1.8 million on school security upgrades, with most of it going to upgrading its video surveillance system to digital, reports Citizen’s News. The new system will enable local police to view feeds from the cameras during an emergency.

In Tallmadge, Ohio, Dunbar Primary and Munroe Elementary schools have almost completed building new secure vestibules at the front of their campuses, reports the Tallmadge Express. The cost of the upgrades to both schools totaled $285,000. Additionally, changes have been implemented in the way students are dropped off in the morning and picked up after school.

In Goshen, Ind., the Fairfield school board has applied for a new state grant to change unsecured entrances in the district to ones operated by pass cards, reports the Goshen News. Additionally, a high school in Nappanee should have a new, more secure entrance by mid-November.

In Cartersville, Ga., a Cartersville Police Department officer will now direct traffic at Cartersville Elementary School, reports the Daily Tribune News. Another officer will also monitor the facility as well as Cartersville Primary School.

In Baltimore County, Perry Hall High School will have new cameras and new requirements for visitor check-in. They will now be screened using a national crime database, reports NBC Washington.

In the Kansas City area, more than 20 school districts have spent more than $20 million in security upgrades for schools, reports the Kansas City Star. Blue Springs has remodeled its schools for improved safety by building more secure vestibules, as did some of the schools in Shawnee Mission, Olathe, Lee’s Summit, Grandview, Fort Osage and Pleasant Hill. Upgraded intercoms and video surveillance systems have also been installed in areas campuses.

In West Milford, N.J., the board of education agreed to spend nearly $48,000 for card access control to the district’s eight facilities, reports NorthJersey.com. Emergency action plans have been placed in each classroom, and 33 new security cameras have been installed in the high school.

The Los Angeles Unified School District will spend $4.2 million for 1,000 new security positions, reports the Los Angeles Times. A fence has been installed at Monterey Highlands Elementary School and cost about $226,200.

In Decatur, Ala., the school has spent more than $50,000 to update lockdown procedures and provide local police with access to school security cameras, reports WAFF. Additionally, visitors will now be buzzed in at the front entrance of schools and an SRO has been added to staff.

In Dallas, 150 DISD elementary schools was now have front doors that have an electronic entrance, large observation portals on the entryways of portable classrooms and a multi-camera monitoring operation in every hallway, reports CBS DFW. So far, $4 million has been spend on intercoms, video surveillance and observation portals. Staff will also be trained on security protocol.

Related Articles:

If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century

This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!

Get Our Newsletters
Campus Safety Conference promo