School Security Special Task Force Recommendations

Gaston County Schools/Gaston County Police March 13, 2013

WE ARE Gaston County Schools

Special Task Force MembershipParents-Jennifer Cease-Cook, Dawn Johnson, Stephanie Moller Smith, Sandy TidwellTeachers-Jill Nichols, Julian Wilson, Tieka HeltonCommunity and Law Enforcement-Steve Eaton, Josh Hamlin, Cheryl Harris, Keith Moon, Curtis RosselleSchool Principals-Glynis Brooks, Joey Clinton, Phyllis WhitworthDistrict Staff-Dixie Abernathy, Melissa Balknight, Sonya McGraw, Jim Parks, Bonnie ReidyTask Force Co-Chairs-Bill Melton, Mark Hollar

A History Lesson

What is the worst incident of school violence in U.S. history?

Answer- Bath Consolidated High School in Bath Michigan.

In what year did it occur?Answer- 1927

Bath Consolidated SchoolMay 17, 1927

Bath Consolidated School

On May 18, 1927 Andrew P. Kehoe used Pyrotol and dynamite to blow up an entire wing of the school.He intended to blow up the whole school but his second device failed to activate.44 people killed (38 elementary students)58 injured

Bath Consolidated SchoolMay 18, 1927

The Formula For Success

Motivation + Means+ Opportunity =

Success

For Good

For Bad

For Worse

Threats to Our Schools

Violent Threats to our schools can come from:

-Student perpetrators

-Outside perpetrators

-Terrorist acts

Special Task Force Meetings

January 30 Organizational MeetingFebruary 13 Personnel and Facilities March 7 Training/Procedures and

Mental HealthMarch 13 Prioritize and Finalize

Task Force

Recommendations WE ARE Gaston County Schools

Personnel Sub Group

First priority = Provide a sworn law enforcement officer for each elementary school in addition to the officers in place at each secondary school (costs to be determined)

Facilities Sub GroupFirst priority = front lobby containmentSecond = intercom and panic button systemsThird = surveillance equipment replacementFourth = classroom securityFifth = exterior door securitySixth = secure movement to detached wings (fencing and two-way radios)Seventh = enhanced security for mobile classrooms

Facilities

First Priority = Front lobby containmentPreclude intruder from entering classroom/student areasVisitors allowed into student areas only by front office personnel remote door release technologyInvolves doors, locking mechanisms, wall construction (some locations) and 4 schools may need front office relocation$2 million (detail available)

Facilities (continued)

Second = Intercom and panic button systemsSchools have needs for intercom upgrades and mobile unit upgrades

$250,000 approximate cost (detail available)Panic buttons—direct call to police and announce a lock down alert to the school

Will connect with existing facility security system and intercom system$50,000 approximate cost (detail available)

Total = $300,000

Facilities (continued)

Third = Surveillance equipment—exterior and interior cameras and recording equipment with a 30-day electronic recording minimum; image quality = human face recognition at 50 feet from camera

Currently—36 systems are outdated (analog)—they date back as far as 2002Recommendation is to replace these 36 systems$1.98 million (detail available)

Facilities (continued)

Fourth = Classroom securityCreate the appearance the classroom is unoccupied; install intruder type door locks; window blinds/shades for all ground floor windows and all door windows; classroom lights controlled from inside the room$3.5 million (most is part of $133 million CIP) (detail available)

Facilities (continued)

Fifth = Exterior door securityUpgrade door hardware so door will remain locked at all times—not intended for public use (key entry without unlocking the door)Replace exterior doors as neededUpgrade intrusion alarm system for exterior doors$2 million (most is part of $133 million CIP) (detail available)

DETACHED WINGS

WE ARE Gaston County Schools

DETACHED WINGS

WE ARE Gaston County Schools

DETACHED WINGS

WE ARE Gaston County Schools

DETACHED WINGS

WE ARE Gaston County Schools

Facilities (continued)

Sixth = Secure movement to detached wings (fencing and two-way radios)

Design and erect high fencing (compliant with fire egress—panic hardware for gates) between corners enclosing the walk way between buildings

$350,000 for fencing and gatesIncrease number of two-way radios for mobility (moving between buildings)

$25,000 for two-way radio additionsTotal = 375,000 (detail available)

Facilities (continued)

Seventh = Enhanced security for mobile classrooms

Install network trilogy alarm proximity locks on main building doors used by mobile classroom traffic; issue proximity chips as specified$50,000 (detail available)

Facilities Total = $10,205,000

Training/Procedures Sub Group

First priority = Each school create a School Safety Committee; review plans at least annually; access school safety plans on the school’s “T” driveSecond = One School Security Associate per 800 students for secondary schools (8 positions)

Cost estimate = $200,304Third = Quarterly School Security Associate meetings

Training/Procedures (continued)Fourth = Substitute teachers: yearly school security update through HR; check in/out to include classroom door key; lockdown plans also in daily plans for all substitute teachersFifth = Training: update training videos; annual metal detection training for all schools (through feeder areas); school administrators, SROs and security personnel trained on surveillance equipment

Training/Procedures (continued)

Sixth = Hold at least two lock down drills per semesterSeventh = Invite/encourage local fire, GEMS, police to view training and drills; encourage local police to conduct drills in our schools

Training/Procedures (continued)

Eighth = Hardening of doors (door stops for all in swing classroom doors) (cost estimate TBD)Ninth = Continue to study new tactics and defense procedures in school security

Training/Procedures Total = $200,304

Mental Health Sub Group

First Priority = School based therapist for each school Second = Three additional mental health clinicians (to decrease case load from 27 schools per clinician to 9 schools per clinician)

Cost = $180,000

Mental Health Total = $180,000

Estimated Costs for All Task Force Recommendations

Personnel $(SROs)Facilities $10,205,000Training/Procedures $200,304Mental Health $180,000

TOTAL $10,585,304+Elementary School

SRO costs

Task Force Recommendations for Immediate Implementation

The following are recommended for immediateimplementation because of no cost:

Each school create a School Safety Committee; review plans at least annually; access school safety plans on the school’s “T” driveQuarterly School Security Associate meetingsMental Health Sub Group recommendation to have a school based therapist for each school.

Recommendations for Immediate Implementation

(continued)Substitute teachers: yearly school security update through HR; check in/out to include classroom door key; lockdown plans also in daily plans for all substitute teachersTraining: update training videos; annual metal detection training for all schools (through feeder areas); school administrators, SROs and security personnel trained on surveillance equipmentHold at least two lock down drills per semester

Recommendations for Immediate Implementation

(continued)Invite/encourage local fire, GEMS, police to view training and drills; encourage local police to conduct drills in our schoolsHardening of doors (door stops for all in swing classroom doors) (cost estimate TBD)Continue to study new tactics and defense procedures in school securityReduce use of mobile classrooms as possible

Task Force Recommendations toL. Reeves McGlohon, Superintendent of Schools

James Buie, Chief of Police#1 Front lobby containment#2 Elementary SROs#3 Exterior door security; secure movement to

detached wings (fencing and two-way radios); enhanced access from mobile classrooms#4 Intercom and panic button systems

Task Force Recommendations toL. Reeves McGlohon, Superintendent of Schools

James Buie, Chief of Police

#5 Three additional mental health clinicians#6 Classroom security (blinds, doors, hardware,

classroom light controls)#7 Surveillance equipment replacement#8 School Security Associates @ 1 per 800 students at secondary schools

Recommendation #1

Front lobby containmentPreclude intruder from entering classroom/student areasVisitors allowed into student areas only by front office personnel remote door release technologyInvolves doors, locking mechanisms, wall construction (some locations) and 4 schools may need front office relocation$2 million (detail available)

Recommendation #2

Provide a sworn law enforcement officer for each elementary school in addition to the officers in place at each secondary school

(costs to be determined)

Recommendation #3

Exterior door securityUpgrade door hardware so door will remain locked at all times—not intended for public use (key entry without unlocking the door)Replace exterior doors as neededUpgrade intrusion alarm system for exterior doors$2 million (most is part of $133 million CIP) (detail available)

Recommendation #3 (continued)

Secure movement to detached wings (fencing and two-way radios)

Design and erect high fencing (compliant with fire egress—panic hardware for gates) between corners enclosing the walk way between buildings

$350,000 for fencing and gatesIncrease number of two-way radios for mobility (moving between buildings)

$25,000 for two-way radio additionsTotal = 375,000 (detail available)

Recommendation #3 (continued)

Enhanced access from mobile classroomsInstall network trilogy alarm proximity locks on main building doors used by mobile classroom traffic; issue proximity chips as specified$50,000 (detail available)

Total for Recommendation #3 = $2,425,000

Recommendation #4

Intercom and panic button systemsSchools have needs for intercom upgrades and mobile unit upgrades

$250,000 approximate cost (detail available)Panic buttons—direct call to police and announce a lock down alert to the school

Will connect with existing facility security system and intercom system$50,000 approximate cost (detail available)

Total = $300,000

Recommendation #5

Three additional mental health clinicians (to decrease case load from 27 schools per clinician to 9 schools per clinician)

Cost = $180,000

Recommendation #6

Classroom securityCreate the appearance the classroom is unoccupied; install intruder type door locks; window blinds/shades for all ground floor windows and all door windows; classroom lights controlled from inside the room$3.5 million (most is part of $133 million CIP) (detail available)

Recommendation #7

Surveillance equipment—exterior and interior cameras and recording equipment with a 30-day electronic recording minimum; image quality = human face recognition at 50 feet from camera

Currently—36 systems are outdated (analog)—they date back as far as 2002Recommendation is to replace these 36 systems$1.98 million (detail available)

Recommendation #8

One School Security Associate per 800 students for secondary schools (8 positions)

Cost estimate = $200,304

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Task Force Recommendations Total = $10,585,304

+Elementary School SRO costs

Questions ?

WE ARE Gaston County Schools