GREENSBORO, N.C — GREENSBORO, N.C. (WFMY) -- School safety has been top on the minds of many local government leaders across the country. So far, in 2018, there have been 20 school shootings in the United States. Families and communities are alarmed and are having serious conversations about how secure children are at schools. Some parents are considering home-schooling as an option.
Some Triad school districts have laid out plans to keep teachers and students safe while they work and learn. Those plans come with a process and a hefty price tag.
For the 2018-2019 academic year school districts have asked for more money and reconsideration of current security protocols. While some are yet to table their budget request proposals, some county governments are reviewing school budgets ahead of the approval phase in the coming weeks.
Most school districts want more resource officers and psychologists on staff. But they also have other detailed requests.
In Guilford County, out of more than $661 million total budget requested by the school district, $5.4 million has been set aside for School Security. The school board wants upgraded and integrated security camera surveillance and communication systems in all schools. They also want advanced doors to keep intruders out, Intercom systems for those going in as well as an alarm system when anyone breaches security.
Included in their request is a Safety Command Center to assist schools to diminish and manage risk in the event of an emergency. The budget is being considered by the County Commissioners' and awaiting their approval.
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools also want upgraded cameras, an intercom system, and identification badges. They have made arrangements to install the AIphone system in middle schools in the district. Some of the funding for that will be drawn from the $3.5 million provided by the 2016 bond, which has been earmarked for upgrades over a span of 4 years.
Rockingham County Schools wants armed volunteer S.R.Os, however, a legislative roadblock has put that on hold. In the meantime, the school district plans to work closely with police departments and the Sheriff's Office to adequately allocate the current staff of S.R.Os and bring new ones on board. Currently, the school system's immediate focus is to secure all their building and they plan to start with upgraded doors which would be integrated with the schools' electronic surveillance system.
The projected cost for upgraded doors alone is nearly $500,000 with the price of one door ranging from between $3000 to $5000. Of the 21 schools in the system, 13 need three new doors, four schools need six, while another four need 12 new doors. The county commissioners will be at a public hearing on their budget on June 4th.
Alamance-Burlington School System said in a statement sent to WFMY News 2 that the district is "reviewing overall campus safety in light of events that have occurred elsewhere across the country to determine what upgrades would be beneficial."
The statement further read in part;
"We have surveyed all district principals about security needs from their perspectives and we have discussed upgrades, particularly at our high school campuses, including projects like upfitting exterior high school campus doors to automatic door locking systems. The facilities division is in the process of gathering quotes for the work and will be presenting recommendations to the Board of Education"
The board meets in June to iron out what to include in their budget proposal.
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