The Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. is tightening its security into school buildings, creating single-point entrances and implementing background checks for visitors, among other changes.
The first round of safety and security changes, announced just ahead of Wednesday’s first day of school, will be implemented by Aug. 24, Superintendent Jim Roberts said. That includes the single-entry-point plan for visitors.
Doors that lead into school hallways and the main office will be locked when a guest enters the building. A visitor seeking access will be required to press an intercom button from a vestibule that would allow them to speak to someone in the main office, Roberts said.
Visitors will also go through a vetting process that includes background checks using a person’s identification card — such as a driver’s license, Roberts said. That background check will be similar to what the district already uses to evaluate teachers and staff members it hires, he said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
The process is expected to take a few minutes, he said.
The background check has the capability to pull a person’s criminal history, including whether the individual is on the state’s sex-offender registry, Roberts said.
“As we look to expand that, we’ll have to establish those crimes that present a danger to us and our kids,” Roberts said.
A background check likely wouldn’t be necessary every time an individual enters a building since the system will have records of guests who were previously approved, Roberts said.
Electronically issued ID badges will be provided to visitors and must be worn while in a school building, Roberts said.
BCSC staff members also will wear badges when they are in the building, he said.
The district’s timetable is for badges to be ready within the first nine week of school.
The various safety and security changes will be phased in, with school buildings at different stages of implementation during the process, the superintendent said.
BCSC has spent about $70,000 this year on security changes such as hardware and software, door locks and cameras. That is on top of $2 million that has been spent since 2013, Roberts said.
The changes being implemented are the result of audits performed internally and externally by the district, including one by Facility Engineering Associates done earlier this year.
The Washington, D.C.-based firm performed audits of Schmitt Elementary School and Columbus North High School in May as part of an assessment of the district’s school security.
More resource officers
BCSC has also budgeted $250,000 for 2019 as it looks to add three school resource officers in January. That will be in addition to the two resource officers that have been in place since January 2014 — Eric Stevens, based at Columbus North High School, and Julie Quesenbery, based at Columbus East High School.
Once the three new resource officers — all trained police officers — are in place, one of the five could take on a supervisory role, Roberts said.
“By adding three, we would be ensuring better coverage among the 18 buildings we have,” Roberts said. “Feedback we received indicated having more coverage in the school corporation would make us more safe.”
Conversations have been held with city and county officials on the need for more police officers in schools, he said.
The school district currently reimburses the City of Columbus for the salary and benefits of the existing resource officers, Columbus Police Chief Jon Rohde said.
The number of additional school resource officers that would come from the Columbus Police Department is still being determined, Rohde. The matter will be discussed and determined by the Columbus City Council during budget discussions, he said.
“Recruitment and retention has been an issue for us, so the time frame of when the officers would be in the schools is to be determined,” Rohde said.
Counseling program
The school district’s Counseling Counts initiative began last school year, ramping up each semester with an expectation to have mental health professionals in every BCSC school building by January.
The district was awarded $1.1 million last year from the Lilly Endowment for the program, while an additional $100,000 came from the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. It is two-tiered approach focused on prevention and providing acute care to prekindergarten through 12th grade students.
“It’s about getting students more help when they need it,” said Larry Perkinson, BCSC employee and student assistance coordinator. “It will be a better learning environment all the way around.”
The district has also ordered 46 hand-held metal detectors from the state of Indiana, which provided them free of charge. One hand-held metal detector is made available for every 250 students enrolled in public, charter and accredited private schools under the program.
However, Roberts said the district doesn’t intend to use the devices on a daily basis, noting that the school board will have to establish a policy before utilizing them.
Parent reaction
Jenni Muncie-Sujan, a parent to a Columbus East High School junior and a Parkside Elementary School fifth-grader, said she supports the changes being made. She created a Facebook group, BCSC Safety Now Parent Forum, and has spoken about school security with the school board earlier this year.
“It’s a move in the right direction,” Muncie-Sujan said, describing what’s being implemented as “real changes that were tangible.”
Screening visitors provides an extra layer of security, she said.
“I like having everyone identified,” Muncie-Sujan said.
Another parent, Kermet Merl Key, said he supports the changes, but would like to see hand-held metal detectors used on a daily basis.
“That seems like a no-brainer,” Key said.
Key, who spoke before the school board in July, said he plans to address the school board at its Monday meeting about metal detectors being used on visitors who enter school buildings.
The district will implement other safety and security changes as opportunities exist, Roberts said.
For events generating large numbers of people such as a school performance, building administrators and school resource officers will be involved as visitors gain entrance to school buildings, he said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”BCSC school hotline number” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
At any time, during or outside the school day, information can be shared with Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. via its hotline number at 812-379-7710.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”BCSC safety and security changes” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
To watch a video that details changes made to Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. safety and security steps, or for a narrative description, visit the BCSC website at www.bcsc.in.us
[sc:pullout-text-end]
