Dec. 14, 2012 changed everything.  American’s sat in front of television sets, tears streamed as they tried to make sense of the images on their screen. 26 people were dead, 20 of them children, after a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut and open fired.

The incident prompted school districts all over the nation to beef up campus security. CISD was no different, putting together a security team to review district policy. As a result, all 13 CISD campuses underwent a security overhaul during the summer.

Officials hired two additional liaison officers, for a total of four for the district. In June, the school board voted to allow liaison officers at both Randall and Canyon High to begin storing firearms and ammunition on campus. The items were to be locked in a safe that’s only accessible to the liaison officer.

This was just the beginning of CISD’s security improvements. With a price tag of $170 thousand, all CISD campuses started this school year with new security entrance systems, cameras and DVR’s. At Randall, most outside doors remained locked throughout the day. However, there are a select few doors, which students utilize between class periods that are tied into the bell system. During passing periods, these doors are unlocked. However, when the tardy bell rings, the system automatically locks the door. With 24 hour camera surveillance, school officials can see who is at the door and utilize a buzz-in system to decide who to allow inside.

Although the new improvements do not solve all our security concerns, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Traditionally, schools have been weapon-free zones. In theory, this is a great policy for an educational environment. However, incidents such as Sandy Hook and Columbine have proved that some people use that policy to make others unarmed and easy targets. With a liaison officer armed with an AR-15, someone might think twice before choosing Randall as their location of attack.

Randall consists of several buildings and a countless number of doors. The vast campus makes it virtually impossible to monitor who is coming in and out throughout the day. With the camera supported buzz-in system and exterior doors locked during the school day, visitors can only enter the building through the main entrances.  This security improvement is unarguably the most important. Keeping our hallways free of unwanted intruders is our biggest line of defense.

The security enhancements have created some inconvenience. Campus secretaries who are already overloaded with work now have to operate the buzz-in system. Tardy students will have difficulty passing between buildings.  Students, parents and visitors will have to bypass convenient, yet locked doors.  Although inconvenient, taking precautions to ensure safety is much more important.

The district has now provided the tools, but for the security improvements to work everyone will have to do their part. Doors should not be propped open. Employees should wear identification badges. Students should have their school ID at all times. Everyone should report suspicious people or behavior on campus immediately. Those on campus should not only embrace the new security measures but work together to keep the campus safe.