New security measures in place in schools
Published 12:57 am Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Teachers in the Andalusia City School System will spend part of an inservice day getting new magnetized photo ids for use in the new school year.
At Andalusia Elementary, entrances will be locked at 7:30 a.m., and teachers will need the magnetic identification cards to re-enter the building if they take students outside. Visitors will be buzzed in at the front door, where a camera system will help office staff maintain security.
The identification badges will be used similarly at Andalusia Middle School and Andalusia High School, Superintendent Ted Watson said. But logistically, AES was the place to start.
“We felt they were potentially the most vulnerable,” he said.
The system is part of new security measures planned for the city school system in the aftermath of shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School late last year. City school officials worked with the Andalusia Police Department and the Andalusia Fire Department to improve the system’s security plan.
Increased video monitoring also will be in place, with a number of cameras added at Andalusia High School. Watson said it is expected there will be 95 to 100 cameras at AHS by the time the project is completed.