Do you think more fencing around your child’s school could keep them safer?
Right now that’s just one of several safety solutions Orange County school leaders are considering.
On Dec. 14, 2012, a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary, killing 26 people, including 20 children.
The tragedy and other shootings in recent years have pushed the issue of school security into the limelight.
School leaders across the country, including here in Central Florida, have been discussing if there is more than can be done to protect students.
One idea is to place additional fencing outside your child’s school. Some people like the idea.
Resident Susan Sullivan said she is concerned about school safety.
“I think it’s a great idea, just to keep out people that don’t belong there,” said Sullivan.
Meanwhile, other parents don’t think the size of the fence matters.
“It’s something that will make people feel safer,” said Russell Anderson, the parent of a second grader. “But from a practical standpoint, it does absolutely nothing to provide for the children in school.”
School leaders said the purpose of having more fencing is to allow one place on the campus to enter or exit.
They said newer schools and ones like Dommerich Elementary, which have undergone renovations, have more fencing than some older schools.
In fact, district leaders said they’ve added 3,000 feet of fencing since the summer. By the end of next month, 13 more schools will also have fencing added.
Orange County Public Schools has hired Safe Havens International, which is looking for areas where schools could be vulnerable in the event of an emergency, along with room to improve their safety designs.
Those findings should be out within a couple of months.
Below is information from the Orange County School District:
Board awards contract to Safe Havens International, Inc. to assess school security during the Nov. 12 school board meeting:
Safe Havens International, Inc. will conduct a comprehensive security risk and vulnerability assessment of all schools in the district. The company will make recommendations upon its findings. Safe Havens will review existing physical and technical security design criteria and recommend standards to be used in all new construction and facility-remodeling projects. Also, they will develop a standardized security risk and vulnerability assessment tool that the district safety and security team will use to conduct future school-based reviews. The cost is not to exceed $974,987. With the board’s approval, district staff can now begin negotiating for services.