School Security Special Task Force Recommendations Gaston County Schools/Gaston County Police March 13, 2013 WE ARE Gaston County Schools

Special Task Force Membership Parents-Jennifer Cease-Cook, Dawn Johnson, Stephanie Moller Smith, Sandy Tidwell Teachers-Jill Nichols, Julian Wilson, Tieka Helton Community and Law Enforcement-Steve Eaton, Josh Hamlin, Cheryl Harris, Keith Moon, Curtis Rosselle School Principals-Glynis Brooks, Joey Clinton, Phyllis Whitworth District Staff-Dixie Abernathy, Melissa Balknight, Sonya McGraw, Jim Parks, Bonnie Reidy Task 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 School May 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 School May 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 Meeting February 13 Personnel and Facilities March 7 Training/Procedures and Mental Health March 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 Group First priority = front lobby containment Second = intercom and panic button systems Third = surveillance equipment replacement Fourth = classroom security Fifth = exterior door security Sixth = secure movement to detached wings (fencing and two-way radios) Seventh = enhanced security for mobile classrooms

Facilities First Priority = Front lobby containment Preclude intruder from entering classroom/student areas Visitors allowed into student areas only by front office personnel remote door release technology Involves 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 systems Schools 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 2002 Recommendation is to replace these 36 systems $1.98 million (detail available)

Facilities (continued) Fourth = Classroom security Create 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 security Upgrade 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 needed Upgrade intrusion alarm system for exterior doors $2 million (most is part of $133 million CIP) (detail available)

DETACHED WINGS WE ARE Gaston County Schools This is H. H. Beam Elementary They have one eight classroom building that is not contiguous with the main building. If this was Grier Middle School, they have multiple buildings that are not contiguous. We want to provide a secure walk path between these two buildings. WE ARE Gaston County Schools

DETACHED WINGS WE ARE Gaston County Schools Still H. H. Beam. We want to erect an eight foot high, decorative, aluminum, fence between building corners. It will need panic bar gates for fire egress, but this will provide a level of security. WE ARE Gaston County Schools

DETACHED WINGS WE ARE Gaston County Schools This too is H. H. Beam – with the fence – it is all magic. The fence is placed in the space to avoid someone being able to climb the fence to get on the roof or on the canopy. WE ARE Gaston County Schools

DETACHED WINGS WE ARE Gaston County Schools And, panic hardware with key entry from the outside is placed on both fence gates. Since every design will be unique to the campus, no estimated costs are provided. 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 gates Increase number of two-way radios for mobility (moving between buildings) $25,000 for two-way radio additions Total = 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” drive Second = One School Security Associate per 800 students for secondary schools (8 positions) Cost estimate = $200,304 Third = 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 teachers Fifth = 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 semester Seventh = 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 $10,205,000 Training/Procedures $200,304 Mental Health $180,000 TOTAL $10,585,304 +Elementary School SRO costs

Task Force Recommendations for Immediate Implementation The following are recommended for immediate implementation 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” drive Quarterly School Security Associate meetings Mental 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 teachers Training: update training videos; annual metal detection training for all schools (through feeder areas); school administrators, SROs and security personnel trained on surveillance equipment Hold 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 schools Hardening of doors (door stops for all in swing classroom doors) (cost estimate TBD) Continue to study new tactics and defense procedures in school security Reduce use of mobile classrooms as possible

Task Force Recommendations to L Task Force Recommendations to L. 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 to L Task Force Recommendations to L. 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 containment Preclude intruder from entering classroom/student areas Visitors allowed into student areas only by front office personnel remote door release technology Involves 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 security Upgrade 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 needed Upgrade 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 gates Increase number of two-way radios for mobility (moving between buildings) $25,000 for two-way radio additions Total = 375,000 (detail available)

Recommendation #3 (continued) Enhanced access from 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) Total for Recommendation #3 = $2,425,000

Recommendation #4 Intercom and panic button systems Schools 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 security Create 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 2002 Recommendation 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Task Force Recommendations Total = $10,585,304 +Elementary School SRO costs

Questions ? WE ARE Gaston County Schools