Published: October 14, 2008 10:22 pm         

Schools safety committee moves security plan forward

With the Virginia Tech shooting still fresh in people’s minds, it’s hard to not think of local own school systems — and what local officials are doing to keep children safe as the expectation of security is heightened.

Aside from teaching, a schools’ primary function is to prioritize security.

Raleigh County is doing its part to assure school safety by continuing with plans to implement high-tech security alarm and key entrance systems in every school in the county.

The schools’ Safety/Access Committee met Tuesday night to discuss its safety plan and bidding process, which they hope to begin in the upcoming weeks.

The comprehensive bid encompassing the project will include access systems, electronic hardware, door replacement and the installation of security signage, which will be installed on every school’s front door, requiring visitors to report to the main office upon arrival.

The county’s independent consultant, Jon Dudley, spent three days individually analyzing each school in the county.

He attended Tuesday night’s meeting to offer technical advice to the committee.

“I’m a father. I put it as if my own child went to school here — what would lead me to feel more comfortable,” Dudley said.

Dudley analyzed all factors and determined Raleigh County needs some work, but is almost where it needs to be.

Director Pupil of Services Miller Hall wants the public to know they are not only looking at the exterior of schools but also the interior.

“Any time you start a comprehensive plan, you’re going to have to make changes. Change includes training all of your people. We’re going to not only train our staff, but work with our kids also,” Hall said.

“We’re going to make sure our people know exactly what they need to do.”

Hall says the plan will “encompass the whole campus and the whole county.” The security system will benefit any child attending school in Raleigh County.

The project has been roughly estimated to cost around $1.5 million.

Approximately $848,000 has been allocated for the project through a School Access Safety grant provided by the SBA.

Academy of Career and Technology students in Jeff Lacey’s drafting class helped the project immensely by drafting floor plans which were used to launch the project.

Assistant Director of Pupil Services Jeff McClung says, “I would like to congratulate ACT and Jeff Lacey for the tireless effort they put into completing and helping us update our floor plans.

“It saved the county a lot of money and it was a great project for those students.”

The timeline is not set in stone, but the committee plans to begin implementation of the security systems as soon as the bid is made.

McClung says, “By the end of this school term, we hope to have some of our major schools completed.”

Anyone with ideas or concerns is invited to attend the next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the board office.

— E-mail: jayres

@register-herald.com