When Opp City School students begin school in August, it will be under new security measures, Superintendent Michael Smithart said Tuesday.

Smithart, addressing school board members, said the measures were put into place to better protect students and staff alike.

He said the system will work using locking doors, cameras and a monitoring system.

“This new system, at the middle school, will keep students from having to man the door, because we didn’t think that was appropriate,” Smithart said. “It will work by installing a maglock at each door with a camera and a buzzer system. A monitor will show who is at the door.

“At the high school and elementary school, there are already maglocks, so we will install a camera and a monitor system,” he said. “So, when the tardy bell rings, the doors will automatically lock. When the class dismissal bell rings, it unlocks. Staff will have ID badges that will work as keys, and we can lock and unlock all the doors, or just one, with a push of a button.”

Board members said they were thrilled to hear of the safety measures. Cost for the project is estimated at $34,000.

In other business, the board:

• voted to employ Caitlin Pearce as a teacher at Opp Middle School and to transfer teacher Keith Ball from OHS to OHS.

• approved more than $400,000 in budget amendments, including a $79,000 increase in the textbook budget; $20,000 for furniture in the OHS media center; and $36,000 for a new tractor/mower.

• amended the system’s student drug policy to include students who drive on school campuses.

• contracted with KHDM Construction of Opp in a $47,147.80 project at Channell-Lee Stadium to remove and replace a backside retaining wall and to rebuild the cooking area.