Faulk: Student Safety Is Top Priority

Faulk: Student Safety Is Top Priority

Security Was Key Feature in Design Of New Schools

CENTRAL — The Central Community School System is taking measures to beef up security efforts at each of its five schools, according to Supt. Mike Faulk.

Faulk said investments in technology to make schools more secure have been incorporated into the district’s construction and maintenance efforts for the past several years.  Now, with heightened concerns for school safety following the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, the Central Community School Board is seeking to further strengthen campus safety.

“While our district is clearly about the job of teaching and instilling learning for each student, we know that teaching and learning in a safe environment is the ultimate priority,” Faulk said.  “This requires a continuous investment and an attitude of awareness.”

Faulk said the district’s new schools include restricted access features.  The district also partners with local law enforcement officials to provide security background checks on district employees and campus visitors.  He said the district recently invested in having two full-time law enforcement officers serving the district’s schools and students.

At the same time, each school is required to maintain crisis plans and conduct frequent emergency drills for the threat of fire, storm and dangerous intruders.  He said those plans are currently under review by officials seeking ways to improve them in light of the tragedy in Connecticut.

School Board President Dr. James Gardner said board members recently held a strategic planning session to review the district’s security measures and to ask Faulk for recommendations for improvements.  The discussions were conducted in executive session to protect important security information from being released.

Faulk said he expects to present the board with his recommendations prior to the Jan. 28 meeting.

He has consulted with security experts and conducted several campus walk-throughs with them.  Although he said there are many aspects of campus security that he will not publicly discuss, he did say access points at each school are being closely examined.  He also noted that the school board has allotted monies to improve access controls in the district’s older buildings, and procedures regarding campus visitors are also being examined and reinforced with parents and employees.

“Our local leadership is making every effort possible to keep Central Community Schools a safe and productive place to be.”


 

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