CMS continues to tighten school security
Cameras, fencing, locks and new integrated system increase student safety
Dr. Clayton Wilcox, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools, on Oct. 16 presented his plan to use $4.5 million from
Mecklenburg County to strengthen school security.
The district has received half, or $4.5 million, of a promised $9
million in county funding to boost security at the district’s 175 schools.
Dr. Wilcox provided an update on how the district is using that money
and how it will use the remaining $4.5 million.
“First, it is important to note that CMS thinks about safety and
security in our schools holistically because we include investments
in social, emotional and mental health in our Circle of Safety,” Dr.
Wilcox told the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. “Our
partnerships with CMPD, our ‘See Something, Say Something’ program
in all schools, LobbyGuard screening for all visitors, anti-bullying
efforts and other measures are all part of our Circle of Safety. Safety
and security are not just about locks, technology or fences – but these
types of measures are important and they are the focus tonight.”
In Phase I, the district will strengthen video surveillance at portable
classrooms and outside venues, and add electronic locks and controlled
access at all schools. The district also will also add visitor-management
systems, crisis alert-card alarms and will enhance video surveillance at
20 high schools. The total cost of Phase I will be $4.5 million.
The Phase I work is underway, Dr. Wilcox said. CMS has installed
new or retrofitted camera systems at 13 schools thus far. The work
included converting all analog camera systems to digital, installing
software upgrades and acquiring additional licensing. The work done
thus far has cost $1.6 million.
Dr. Wilcox also said additional security and door locks have been
installed at eight schools at a cost of $21,000 and additional perimeter
fencing has been installed at three schools at a cost of almost $30,000.
“We are poised to add additional video surveillance especially
focused on coverage for mobile classroom units and outside venues in
nearly all schools across the district,” Dr. Wilcox said. “The prioritization
for this portion of work is driven primarily by the number of mobile
classroom units on campuses, with those campuses having the most
mobile classroom units prioritized first.” The total cost of that work, he
said, would be $1.75 million.
The district will also pilot a fully integrated full-campus security
system at Charlotte East Language Academy, he said. The system,
which costs $180,000, integrates cameras, audio and crisis alert-card
alarms. It is new to CMS but has been successfully used in several
large districts in Georgia, he said.
In Phase II, CMS will expand the safety structures built in Phase I
to extend to more schools, as well as reconfigure some school gates
and access points, he said.
“Our kids are what matter most,” Dr. Wilcox said. “We want our
schools to be safe places for them.”
Parent Teacher Magazine • November/December 2018 • 9