Peninsula School District beefs up security on campus

Over the past few months, the Peninsula School District has been taking measures to provide greater security on its campuses.

Buzz-in intercom systems have been put in place at the eight elementary schools, with plans to keep expanding to middle and high schools. Other security measures have also been put in place.

The system is an intercom system at the front door. Visitors push to talk to the front desk, identifying themselves before being buzzed in.

The new system allows the school’s front desk to see who is at the door during school hours. Office managers feel safer, said Kris Hagel, the district’s technical service director.

Schools, parents and students are still adjusting to the new changes.

In a school messenger sent home to parents, Vaughn Elementary School Principal Susan O’Leary explained it this way:

“With any change there is need to practice. It will take a little time to get used to this new safety feature. Ultimately, this is one additional step towards keeping Vaughn safe for students, staff, and visitors.”

The new system came about after the district brought in security consultant John Thomson, of J Henry Enterprise. Thomson did an “All Hazards Safety Assessment,” said district spokeswoman Kathy Weymiller.

“(Thomson has) come up with lots of really smart and practical solutions,” Weymiller said.

Those security solutions include changes to line of sight by removing trees, better identifiers on school buses and the new buzz-in system.

Elsewhere in the area, Thomson did assessments for the Bethel School District and Gig Harbor’s Lighthouse Christian School.

The Peninsula district began planning for the new changes since March and April. Many of the changes depend on available funds, said Hagel. But up to now, things are going well.

“So far, the schools feel a lot safer,” Hagel said.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 11:07 AM with the headline "Peninsula School District beefs up security on campus."