GREYDON WILLIAMS – Hoof Prints Staff

Visitors to the high school may soon find themselves buzzing on the main door with a camera in their face if proposed security measures are approved by the board.

Since the tragic Sandy Hook shooting in December, schools all over the country have been working to improve their security, and BIC is no exception. All four district principals have been making changes to the security of the school to keep the students and faculty inside safe.

“Each building principal and the superintendent met to see what we could begin to do immediately to do better,” Principal Randy Rose said.

Rose explained that there has been talk of locking the high school doors, but this is easier said than done.

“It’s not a feasible as it sounds due to student traffic,” Rose said. 

While locking the doors with a regular lock may not be possible, Superintendent George Edd Holland and board members are looking into purchasing other lock systems. One way to keep the doors locked without inconvenience to students going in and out of the building is using a magnetic lock system with a security camera outside the door. This would allow someone in a designated room to lock and unlock the doors for students, but keep anyone else out of the building.

The high school is not the only building undergoing security changes. The elementary is the first area of campus to implement security changes. Currently the elementary has locked the side door entrance and the front door allowing access only to those who buzz in with the door bell. The elementary is also working on putting a lock on every door.

“The plan is for the teachers’ doors to lock on an internal locking system,” Dr. Kima Stewart said.

The schools will soon be asking visitors to wear a visitor’s lanyard so that teachers and students will know that they are have permission to be in the building.

“Probably the safest thing you can do is put everyone in one building;” George Edd Holland said.

According to the superintendent, in a few years there could be a possibility of some new buildings. This plan would allow all grades to be either in the same building or general area.

The biggest problem with making all these changes is expense. The school has many ideas of how to improve, but not all of them can be put into effect due to the fact that there is just not enough money.

“You just do what you’ve got to do… and hope for the best,” Holland said.