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Security plan in works BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD Staff Writer Following a series of school shootings in the country last fall, specifically two situations where adult intruders victimized their student hostages, the Brainerd School District has been taking a closer look at how safe students are in schools here.
On Wednesday, Earl Wolleat, director of buildings and grounds for Brainerd schools, provided the school board building committee update on security improvements. Wolleat said the district has performed security audits at all schools and has started a long-term plan to address security issues.
All school buildings have crisis plans but after last fall's national news the district felt it needed to re-evaluate its plans.
Wolleat said officials have implemented simple and cost-free changes, like making sure doors, except the front doors, are all locked at each school by 8:15 a.m. after students arrive for the school day. But since many security updates cost money, the district has had to create a priority list for these capital expenditures, he said.
A trial program at Harrison Elementary School to improve security has been successful and officials are now working on implementing a similar trial at Whittier, said Wolleat. Baxter and Lowell elementary schools are next on the list for improvements, which include additional camera surveillance and video recording devices to monitor the buildings, said Wolleat.
Wolleat said many of the older school buildings have paging systems that don't reach all areas of the buildings, including the playgrounds. As a result, paging systems have been expanded. In particularly loud areas and playgrounds, blue lights will be installed as they have been at Harrison School to warn students and staff of an armed intruder and/or school lockdown. Students lon the playground during a lockdown situation would then be directed by school staff on the playground to go to a designated safe location away from the school.
Blue lights also will be installed on the trails and outside areas at Forestview Middle School, one of the most secure buildings in the district, said Wolleat. Wolleat said a security improvement made this week allows the police liaison officer to monitor all security cameras at the middle school from the officer's own computer laptop.
While the committee discussed specific security improvements made and weaknesses in security that need to be improved at various Brainerd school buildings, the Dispatch has chosen not to disclose this information because of its sensitive nature and potential threat to student safety.
School lockdowns are practiced five times a year at each school building each year, a state mandate, said Brainerd Superintendent Jerry Walseth. During a school lockdown, teachers and administrators are responsible for quickly emptying the hallways of students, who are then locked into their classrooms with their teachers, lights off and shades drawn. No one is generally allowed to leave or enter the buildings during a lockdown.
Walseth told the committee that while the district has to make sure its students and staff are safe, its mission also is to make sure the schools remain open and inviting to the community.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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