Many new security techniques have been freshly implemented this school year, but one of the most recent ones has been the use of security badges by all staff and faculty.
“We have these [security badges] and we also have badges in the main office for visitors. So to the greatest extent possible we want every adult to be identified by a badge,” said principal Thomas Mead.
The overall idea of having security badges is for everybody in the building, including students, to be able to see a badge worn by every adult, and to feel secure that this person belongs in the school building. If they are not wearing a badge, they should be escorted in the building by a teacher or a member of the staff.
“So we’re still working on the fringes of the badges, and by that I mean we have contractors. They generally do check into the main office, and they usually get a visitor’s badge, but we also have some long term subs in different areas. For them we have a badge that [looks similar to the regular one] but doesn’t have a picture of their face on it,” said Mead.
The badges are used in conjunction with other security measures such as the locking of exterior doors. The main door by the rotunda is locked, along with the lower school office door and the upper school office door which also has a keypad entry for seniors. Seniors are able enter their pin code, and gain entry to the school that way.
“So that makes us a little safer, a little more secure, but again this is a school and it is not a maximum security prison. We have to strike a balance between security, and what is outside: a steady stream of people coming in to the school. We don’t need