Security measures already in place include police officers serving at each building, security cameras, vestibules and more.
In response to the recent high school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead and more injured, Lenape Regional High School District Superintendent Carol Birnbohm reached out to the LRHSD community in a public message to address school safety concerns.
Birnbohm and district security and emergency management coordinator Jim Kehoe outlined some of the measures already in place to provide security and prevent violence at the district’s schools.
Birnbohm first noted officers from local police departments serve as school resource officers at each of the district’s schools. This service also includes having marked police vehicles stationed at each school to increase the visibility of a police presence.
In the event of an emergency, police also have the ability to access a school’s live streaming video surveillance system. All schools in the district are equipped with a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week surveillance system monitoring the interior and exterior of buildings.
In addition to police, Birnbohm noted security staff is available at school during the arrival and dismissal of students to monitor anyone attempting to enter the building.
According to Birnbohm, exterior doors to the district’s schools are locked and secured during the school day, and office vestibules limit the direct entry of visitors to any school.
Visitors who do enter a school are subject to a screening process, through which security personnel use an intercom and camera system to authorize entry to a secured area where a visitor’s photographic identification can be scanned, before they are escorted to their final destination.
All district staff members are required to wear identification badges at all times.
According to Birnbohm, the district’s schools also conduct mandatory safety drills every month, such as active shooter, lockdown and bomb threat drills.
Birnbohm said as recently as January, all schools in the district underwent an unannounced drill meant to practice for the event of an active shooter and lockdown situation.
Birnbohm also said each school has a crisis plan that is reviewed and updated yearly with help from state and local police.
In addition to safety precautions already in place at district schools, Birnbohm encouraged parents to speak with their children about keeping their schools safe.
Parents are encouraged to remind children that if they see anything suspicious, either at school or online, the student should immediately report the suspicious activity to school officials.
Parents are also encouraged to pay attention to their children’s activities and who their friends are, including online interactions. Parents should report any safety and security concerns to school officials.
“On behalf of the administrators and staff of the Lenape Regional High School District, I want to assure you that we have always, and will continue to, take proactive steps to ensure the safety and security of our schools and the health and well-being of your teens who you entrust to our care each day,” Birnbohm said.
In preparation of a real emergency situation, the LRHSD emails families and staff every September to inform them of communication tools the district uses to disseminate important information.
The information is also provided to new students during the school year.
In the event of a real emergency, the district will communicate using tools such School Messenger, phone messages, emails, text messages, school and district websites, Lenape District Television and the @LRHSDstatus Twitter address.
The district’s direct contact systems operate by using the contact information the district has on file for families, so families are encouraged keep the district advised of any changes to a family’s contact details.
