Troy School District continues to improve school security
By Marianne Eisenbrandt Correspondent March 22, 2013 11:24PM
Updated: April 25, 2013 7:16AM
JOLIET — The Troy School Board continues to improve security throughout the district in response to the Newtown, Conn., school shooting massacre.
Supt. Don White said Complete Investigative Services, in Joliet, recently was hired to complete a comprehensive security audit on all of the district facilities. Although there were suggestions that came from the security audit, White said the district already was working on many of them and will continue to review and consider reasonable safety enhancements.
The suggested improvements are in addition to the installation of a new visitor management system that has been installed in all schools. The new system is called “Hall Pass” and requires visitors to provide a state ID so that a quick background check can be performed.
One of the recommended improvements was that all staff at all times should wear identification cards because police do not know every staff member by sight. White said this suggestion will be implemented immediately.
Also suggested was an exterior emergency notification system that would notify staff and students who are outside in the event of an emergency (similar to fire alarm strobes).
White said district administration is researching a viable solution for each location. This would include the use of the district’s current intercom system to notify the perimeter of the schools when there is an emergency or announcement.
In other action, the board approved a new Campus Activity Fee for grades five through eight. This one-time $50 fee will allow students to participate in as many activities as they want while only paying one fee.
It was noted that this fee for all students will allow the district to avoid activities reductions. The textbook fees will remain unchanged for kindergarten through eighth grade for the 2013-14 school year.
