One of the nice things about the small town in which I live is a very proactive school district that keeps the community informed about what’s going on.
I recently received a newsletter describing the steps the district have already taken and plan on taking in the near future. It probably helps that there are only around 500 students total, K-12.
Currently, all visitors are screened for criminal history.
Fire, tornado, and evacuation drills are performed throughout the year. I was particularly impressed by the claim that all 500-ish students were loaded onto buses withing five minutes.
School facilities and buses are already equipped with video systems. The buses are also equipped with GPS systems.
An armed, certified Peace Officer on campus – I know this fellow, he was previously one of the County Constables.
Multiple anti-bullying programs to – if I’m reading between the lines correctly – help reduce the likelihood of a Columbine style incident.
Emergency two-way radios for staff and bus drivers.
Classroom doors that can be locked from the inside.
Planned improvements include Increased perimeter security such as electronically locked exterior doors, improved fencing, and bulletproof glass in entry areas.
Sounds like usual over reaction to show something is being done.
County Constable? Is that what they call Sheriff’s deputies or Sheriff’s police in your jurisdiction?
My understanding is that there are two separate levels of law enforcement authority – the Sheriff and his deputies who have county-wide responsibilities and the Constables who are the law enforcement officers covering their County precinct. There are four precincts in our county, each of which have an elected Justice of the Peace.
I hate the whole idea that we have to turn schools into fortresses, and I’m no fan of having armed police in the schools; but given the reality, I don’t see how any of these steps constitutes an overreaction. They all sound pretty reasonable to me–but your school district should probably run them past David Mamet just to be sure.