Goodings
Grove Luther J. Schilling William E. Young William J. Butler
Hadley
Middle Homer Jr. High
Contact:
Charla Brautigam, Communications/Public Relations Manager
cbrautigam@homerschools.org |
708-226-7628
For
Immediate Release:
March 2, 2018
Keeping
students and staff safe
Homer
33 Board of Education reviews security options and procedures
Keeping Homer 33C students and staff safe is going to take more than
security cameras, buzzer systems and card readers, say members of the Homer 33C
Board of Education.
It’s going to take procedural changes, such as never propping doors open
and keeping track of who’s in the buildings after hours.
“It’s great that community groups are able to come in and use the
buildings after hours,” said Board member Kevin DeSchaaf, “but we need to make
sure we know who’s in the buildings and when.”
Just last week, DeSchaaf and Board member Russ Petrizzo were at one of
the schools for a Facility Committee meeting in the late afternoon/early
evening when they watched a student enter the building and go upstairs without
checking in with a staff member or announcing his intentions.
“We’re going to have to address that … and make sure our schools are
more secure,” said DeSchaaf.
The Board’s Facility Committee has been working with Tria Architects to
assess the district’s security conditions and determine what can be done to
make the schools even safer.
A
list of recommendations is expected to go to the full board for consideration
later this spring.
Among the security features being discussed are security cameras at each
school and an external buzzer system that would stop visitors at the main
entrance. Currently, visitors can step into a school’s vestibule before they
are buzzed in.
Petrizzo said he would support arming teachers and staff, and
implementing fines for those caught leaving a door propped open.
“It’s unfortunate, but we’re going to have to do something,” he said.
“It’s something we can’t wait on any longer.”
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