FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2014
Calvert County Public Schools regularly upgrades school buildings to protect the safety of students and will continue to do so during the 2014-2015 school year. According to Director of Student Services Kim Roof, some of the changes are more noticeable than others. “Because of the nature of school security, we can’t make all of our improvements public, but we want to assure the community that all of our schools have increased security measures.” In addition to making changes to the exterior of buildings, Ms. Roof and her department work with schools to increase safety measures in classrooms.
Most notably, the school system is in the first phase of installing an electronic access system in school buildings. Exterior doors will remain locked during the school day to enhance the safety of students and staff. Visitors will access the building by ringing an intercom at the front door, and a member of the office staff will admit them to the building, thereby allowing school staff to monitor access. Visitors will continue to sign into buildings using the computer program Keep ‘n Track. More information about the procedure for entering schools will be sent to families as the access system is installed in each building. School Safety Specialist Larry Titus recognizes that the implementation of the electronic access system will change the way Calvert County Public Schools has traditionally operated, yet he believes that the priority of keeping students and staff safe merits the shift. The installation of the electronic access system is not in response to a threat but rather is another step to make sure schools are safe places.
In addition to the electronic access program, other noticeable initiatives to enhance school safety are in place, as well. Every school has an emergency management plan that is updated and reviewed annually in accordance with state and federal guidelines. During the year, students will complete six emergency drills—evacuation; shelter in place; reverse evacuation; lock down; drop, cover and hold; and severe weather—plus the traditional ten fire drills required annually. Each school also has an interdisciplinary threat assessment team to address concerns that are brought to an administrator regarding student behaviors that could be a threat to the individual, building or community. The team determines interventions to support the well-being of the student and protect the safety of the community.
###
Media Contact
Catherine Page
410-535-7428