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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Bath Consolidated School May 17, 1927

5. 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

6. Bath Consolidated School May 18, 1927

7. The Formula For Success
Motivation + Means+ Opportunity =
Success

8. For Good

9. For Bad

10. For Worse

11. Threats to Our Schools
Violent Threats to our schools can come from: -Student perpetrators -Outside perpetrators -Terrorist acts

12. 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

13. 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)

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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

19. 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)

20. 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)

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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)

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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.

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. 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 1 per 800 students at secondary schools

39. 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)

40. 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)

41. 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)

42. 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)

43. 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

44. 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

45. Recommendation #5
Three additional mental health clinicians (to decrease case load from 27 schools per clinician to 9 schools per clinician)
Cost = $180,000

46. 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)

47. 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)

48. 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

49. Questions ?
WE ARE Gaston County Schools