Doors installed at MHS to bolster security
The Marshall Board of Education voted Tuesday, Nov. 21, to begin the process of installing interior doors on classrooms at Marshall High School. The move is part of the district's project of improving school security.
The board approved a $19,000 bid from Pat Flinn to install doors by the end of the year so the school will be more secure when the new semester begins in January.
MHS is considered by school officials to be the most difficult to secure because of its many points of access, sprawling campus and open design.
Classrooms are currently difficult to secure because many of them have only moveable partitions rather than doors.
According to Deputy Superintendent Rick Radford, the door installation project will involve replacing the partitions with wooden studs and drywall and putting in place steel doors.
Radford and Superintendent Rob Gordon also reviewed the status of the overall security enhancement plan.
After consulting staff, the administration has revised plans for exterior security improvements, which will involve adding new six-foot fences to better control access to the buildings, locking more exterior doors and monitoring doors that remain unlocked.
The current version of the plan calls for less fencing but placing it strategically to protect vulnerable areas on campus.
Board Vice President Anita Wright asked how unlocked doors would be monitored, especially the main entrance from the parking lot on the south side of the building.
Radford said options are still being considered, including the possibility of posting a receptionist or resource officer there. He said the administration was also considering whether more cameras might be necessary for key doorways.
A number of exterior doors on school buildings have already been replaced and more will be replaced in coming weeks.
The administration is also exploring the possibility of issuing lanyards and identification cards to all students and staff at MHS.
Radford said he believes he can acquire the materials for about $4,500.
The ID cards would include photos and magnetic strips, so they could be used for a number of purposes in addition to identification, functioning as library cards and lunch passes, for example.
Board President Jeanette Klinge urged Radford to make sure the lanyards include a properly placed release clasp, otherwise they could easily be used to choke students.
Radford said the vendor assured him that the clasps could be placed anywhere on the lanyards and that he would make sure they were placed appropriately.
He said the lanyards and cards might be issued in January or February.
Written by Alex on June 29th, 2009 with no comments.