Texas’ Senate education chairman Sen. Larry Taylor unveiled a school safety measure that touches on strengthening school security, hardening school infrastructure and emphasizing mental health resources.
The school safety initiative plan includes a two-story secured front entrance, a new bus driveway, a new door system allowing a school to be secured through an app and equipment in classrooms that teachers can use to barricade their classroom doors.
The door locks are simple to use. A pin at the door’s base slides into a hole in the floor, barricading the door from being opened. When activated, the door lock sends an emergency alert to local law enforcement.
“Mainly with the number of school shootings that have happened, we’re just trying to be extra vigilant," District superintendent David McCurry said. “And in the event that something does happen, we’re prepared.”
The Edmond Public Schools current bond issue includes shatter-resistant window film, new video surveillance equipment and ID badges for secondary school students.
According to district spokesperson Caleb Price, the new classroom door locks are one of the most noticeable changes. The locks let teachers lock their classroom doors with a key from the inside of the room as opposed to the outside, which helps prevent intruders from entering the room.
Renovations to the middle school, which houses the sixth through eighth grades, include improved classrooms and flexible working spaces. The renovations also put the entire campus under one roof and added a secure entrance and access controls.
The iris data is handled entirely by IT staff at Auburn, said Jeff Kohler, a product development director at Princeton Identity, who provides the iris reading technology. Instead of storing the data on the iris readers, it’s encrypted and stored on Auburn’s network “with all of the Auburn security aspects,” Kohler said.
“If we had an assailant that wanted to come in and gain entry by using a gun, the bullet will come through but the person will not be able to break the glass,” Crothersville High School Principal Adam Robinson told Fox 59.
The new glass should be installed during the summer and the project should be finished by the beginning of the next school year, according to Jason Edelheit, director of operations and finance for District 35.