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New schools and safety
One of the unquestionable benefits of new schools is that they are designed with our new standards for safety and security in mind.
When a lot of schools were built, safety and security wasn’t even close to what it is today. Doors used to be left unlocked during the day, school resource officers were just the D.A.R.E. officer who stopped by once a week and lockdown drills were non-existent.
Most districts have done what they can with old buildings to make them more secure: locking all doors except the main entrance, installing a buzz-in system and adding security cameras.
I’ve been in some buildings where there really is no good way to secure the building because of the way the school is designed.
Most new schools have the main office right by the entrance. Some even have the double lock vestibule that forces visitors to go through the main office to enter.
I’ve seen older buildings that have the office in a place where they can’t see who comes in the entrance, making security a big concern.
I saw what looked like a buzzer/intercom system at the main doors, which lead to the hall right by the main office. Spokeswoman Kim Fish told me that there are security cameras throughout the building. There will be two school resource officers.
There are also two bay entrance to the school that would allow emergency personnel to pull an ambulance up to those doors and be closer to certain areas of the large school then they would be at just the front entrance.
Another nice thing about new schools is that rooms for students with multiple disabilities are put in a particular location — usually close to the entrance and exit and on the ground floor.
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