Bond proposal focuses on school security

Throughout the past year, school security has been brought to the forefront. The upcoming September 10 Bartlesville Public School District bond issue is strongly focused on enhancing security at all BPSD facilities.

As part of the $36.72 million proposal, which would not raise taxes, approximately $1.4 million is devoted to security upgrades.

The Bartlesville Public School District takes the security of students and staff throughout the district very seriously and felt it was imperative to make security a key priority for the upcoming bond election.

In cooperation with local emergency agencies, security experts and district administrators, a list of desired security upgrades was compiled. That list was prioritized and allowed BPSD to identify the most pressing security needs to be included in the bond proposal.

“We are constantly updating and re-evaluating our safety measures. Our district meets regularly with emergency responders, including the Director of Washington County Emergency Management, Kary Cox, Kevin Ickleberry, Lieutenant and Commander of the Special Operations Team for the Bartlesville Police Department, Bartlesville Fire Chief, Billy Phillips, as well as BFD fireman, Brett Howard, and BPSD School Resource Officers Bullen and Plummer. We discuss safety and what can we do to make it safer for our teachers, students and parents so they can concentrate on learning,” said BPSD Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator, Kerry Ickleberry.

Ickleberry went on to say, “Under the proposal, we would add recommended security measures and BPSD would be adding layers of protection. We would be able to enhance our school security system and that will help deter harm from happening.”

Under the proposal, security upgrades would be far reaching and include each district building as well as the district’s school bus fleet.

Highlighting the proposal is the implementation of the Lobby Guard System at each BPSD building. Lobby Guard runs a background check on visitors, and if cleared, prints a visitor badge with a photo.

If voters approve the bond proposal, the presence of security cameras would drastically increase. The cameras would be accessible by district administrators remotely any time there was a need.

“Throughout the district, security cameras allow us to consistently monitor our school buildings while also serving as a deterrent to inappropriate behavior. The security cameras help us gather information on incidents that may have taken place and often provide valuable insight,” said Executive Director of Secondary Education, Sam Herriman.

While some BPSD buses are currently equipped with cameras, the bond proposal would allow more of the district’s bus fleet to be equipped with camera systems.

As part of the August 2012 bond issue, Hoover Elementary School was outfitted with a secured entrance during the summer months. The secured entrance construction was a milestone for BPSD as it meant each elementary school throughout the district now has a secured entrance.