Point Boro Schools Instill New Security Procedures

Point Pleasant Boro Schools have added some new procedures since evaluating security after the Newtown, Conn. School shooting, in what Superintendent Vincent Smith said is a “culture change” for the district.

The idea is to minimize access by visitors, and better control who enters the schools, Smith said.

For example, one major change was to create vestibules where visitors are stopped instead of proceeding down halls or wandering throughout the school. Smith gave an example of a parent dropping off a lunch or sports equipment for their child, who would take care of the issue with staff in the vestibule instead of going into the facility to drop it off with a child.

“We’ll take it and give it to them,” Smith said. “It is a matter of changing the culture and I think it’s working.”

Whereas Point Boro high schoolers could leave for lunch out of any school door, only two doors are being used as exits and entrances during school hours.

Keeping other doors shut and not letting someone in through a side door has taken some time getting used to for students and staff, Smith said.

“It’s a culture change,” Smith said.

There’s also a device now in place that alerts staff that a door is open for a prolonged period of time, he said.

Another change is upgraded camera software. Security footage was retained for two weeks, but the upgrade archives footage for 30 days now, Smith said.

Police can also link right into the security feeds from the police headquarters, said the superintendent.