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Local News

March 14, 2013

Ethel, votech getting added security measures

Construction needed at three other schools

By Leslie N. Dees CNHI

KOSCIUSKO — School security has become a growing concern in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn.

During the March 4 meeting of the Attala County School Board, members voted to put in video intercom system and card reader access for teachers at Ethel High School and the Kosciusko-Attala Career Technical Center.

Addressing the board, Attala County Schools Superintendent Bryan Weaver said, “Basically, it (Ethel) is one of the worst schools as for as security goes.”

“The entrance at the very front – as soon as you come up the steps, you can go right through the door and if you go to the right, they can go into the hall where the students are without any disruption to the office at all.”

Weaver explained that if visitors choose to go to the left of the entrance, they would go by the office.

We have looked at the possibility of putting in a video/intercom system at the front door.

“Where they (visitors) would have to come to the door and push a button and the office would have to respond,” Weaver said. “We are still debating on the possibility if we need to lock the door in the hallway at all times,” he added.

He explained that each staff member would have a card that they could open the front door on their own.

Also, the back entrance between the office and the library would be staff entrance and in cases of rainy weather, the student entrance.

Weaver said teachers would have to use an ID/card reader system to get in. Students would enter in the additional back entrance that leads directly to classrooms.

Career technical center, an intercom system would be put at the end opposite Wendy’s.

The other end would be by staff ID because agriculture teacher Kenneth Georgia has a greenhouse that he is  in and out of alot, Weaver said.

The cards would not be for student use.

Questions arose about securing the other outer buildings at the schools including the  cafeteria, gym and band hall.

“That’s something we need to look at,” Weaver said. “This is just the first step in making our schools secure.”

Weaver explained that some construction was needed at Greenlee Elementary, McAdams High School and Long Creek Elementary before additional security measures could be taken.

“At McAdams, when you come into the front, where you come in and go to the right or the left, having something, he said. “Maybe doing metal partitions with double doors on each side.”  

At Long Creek, a foyer is needed with functional double doors.

Weaver said he hopes that the construction improvements will be done by August and he is currently in the process of getting construction quotes.

The system for EHS and votech was purchased from Security Solutions in the amount of $6,634.

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