Security enhanced at Whitehall schools

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A desk has been set up at the front of the Elementary School for security and tax processing. All visitors must check in at the front desk or office when entering either the high school or elementary school. This new procedure is designed to improve security at the facilities.

By Catherine L. Tobin

Security and safety of students became an issue at all schools across the nation following the attacks in recent years. Schools in inner cities as well as rural areas took action to upgrade safety as a result.
In Whitehall, school superintendent Patrick Dee has updated policy and the line of sight at both the Whitehall High School and the Whitehall Elementary School in an effort to add to security at the schools.
“I think it is important that the community is aware of what the district is doing and of how the school district is ensuring the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” Dee said.
The improvements were one of the topics of conversation when Dee was interviewed by the Board of Education and other groups for his transition into the superintendent role. He said the topic was a priority of the school board.
Dee said he took several steps to improve the security at both schools, including improving the line of sight at the entrances.

A desk has been set up at the front of the Elementary School for security and tax processing. All visitors must check in at the front desk or office when entering either the high school or elementary school. This new procedure is designed to improve security at the facilities.
A desk has been set up at the front of the Elementary School for security and tax processing. All visitors must check in at the front desk or office when entering either the high school or elementary school.

“The district had a series of cameras throughout the district, which is very common, and has been within the last five or six years, when I arrived,” Dee said. “Most school districts have had cameras and camera set-ups.”
But the constituency groups noted issues with lack of sight line and being able to see who is coming and going from the buildings.
“It raised its head with me within days of arriving that this was a concern as well,” Dee said. “We wanted to make sure that we were aware of who was in the buildings, when they were in the buildings, and where.”
The need of a good sight line to the front doors was evident, he said.
Shortly after arriving in the school district, Dee met with both principals and discussed how the district could ensure that good sightlines were established for safety purposes.
“Previously the district had installed a buzzer system but unfortunately the person who was manning the buzzer couldn’t see who was at the front door,” he added. ”Fortunately we were able to correct that in both buildings before the school year started.”
At the high school, Dee said, “we changed the layout of where the main office was” to establish a sightline to where the buzzer is located.
“Previously, when you came into the building the main entrance to the office was around the corner. We changed the location of the greeter’s window and now the administrative assistant sitting there in the office, when the buzzer rang, she could look up and see who was there.”
The visitors are then asked to report to the office.
“If the individual came in and refused to come to the office, this gives us the opportunity to go into lock down or to do whatever is necessary for safety and security,” Dee said. “In addition, we reviewed protocols with all of our faculty and staff as to ensuring all the exterior doors to the school are left locked throughout the school day and that our faculty, staff and students aren’t letting people in through doors that they shouldn’t be coming in.
That’s a change in philosophy for some as we all want to be helpful; we all want to be courteous. But, we all have to be safe,” he stressed.
At both schools, the district now wants to ensure that all comings and goings occur through one central location, the front doors.
“At the elementary school, there was no sightline at all,” Dee said. “There was a buzzer system there, but now we have hired a greeter and set up a desk area at the front, with an individual who sits there and signs people in and signs people out. Actually she serves as our tax collector as well.”
She also helps out and supports the main office. “That person is doing multiple duties but most importantly ensuring that the people who are in the building, should be in the building,” Dee said.
The district’s main concern was parents and others coming into the buildings unannounced and causing disruptions for teachers and classrooms. As part of the new policy, Dee asks that parents and others make an appointment for an available time with teachers, counselors and the office.
“We cut down on the ability of folks to just randomly enter the building and we’re asking people to schedule appointments, which is more responsible of us as an education institution to make sure that our teachers can teach when they are supposed to be teaching,” Dee said.
Between classes, during preparation time, and before and after school are ideal times for these meetings, according to Dee.
“Folks can always send an email to our classroom teachers or they can call and leave a message for a classroom teacher. Or schedule something through the main office. We still want to make it easy for folks to have access to our teachers,” but to also ensure the safety of all those in the school, he said.
Cost was minimal for the changes. “It was just planning and layout,” Dee said. “The cost to the district was minimal but these changes enhance the security of both schools.”