Secure Schools

Rather than wasting $28 million on tearing down the school in Florida, they should use a fraction of this cost to harden the facility.

 

I envision a single entrance bullet-proof glass door at the front of each school with full view by the Receptionist and intercom.  Visitors announce themselves over the intercom and the Receptionist screens the visitor for entry. The Receptionist can require the visitor to empty any backpacks or carry devices. The Receptionist contacts whoever the visitor is seeing and they come to the Lobby to identify the visitor and escort the visitor to a meeting room off the Lobby.

 

The Receptionist’s cubicle is bullet-proof glass and is in the lobby.  The Receptionist can press a button to indicate that all doors have been locked automatically and alert the Police to come to reception and alert the Security Team that there is an incident in the lobby. The Receptionist can lock the visitor in the lobby and wait for the Police. If the visitor damages anything, they will be arrested and will have to pay for damages before they are released. Hostile visitors will have their rights waived.

 

When Police arrive, the Receptionist will follow their pre-planned protocols to keep the visitor from students and staff. The doors in the school are bullet-proof with a bullet-proof glass windows. All doors are electronically controlled. The indoor and outdoor cameras record motion and the monitors are in the Receptionist’s cubicle. The facility is wired to prevent theft and vandalism as well as entry to do harm.

 

Every School System needs to be able to select students for admission based on their assessment.  Those who fail to be admitted should be referred to schools who would admit them.  This should include English language proficiency, performance on standardized tests and behavioral problems.

Schools should be able to expel students for behavioral problems and refer them to special schools and on-line schooling.

 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader