Elementary school upgrades make students safer

Many of Lawton Public Schools’ youngest students are long accustomed to protective fencing that protects them from the outside world while they play.

But, like the secondary campuses, elementary schools are getting security upgrades for existing features, as well as new protections.

Shelby Carpenter, principal at Sullivan Village Elementary, said her campus received new perimeter fencing in the 2022-2023 school year, a security feature LPS administrators wanted installed on all campuses as a way to protect those inside their buildings. LPS Superintendent Kevin Hime said the point of the fencing — now in place at all elementary schools — is not keeping students inside. Rather, it is to keep those who shouldn’t be inside the building on the outside and, preferably, off the school grounds.

Carpenter said the fencing accompanies security features that have been in place at her school for years, as well as other measures that are new.

Among her campus’ long-standing security features is a badge door lock system with exterior doors, meaning that unless you have a badge, someone has to let you into the building. A newer security addition is an enclosed foyer, built last year to create a vestibule to hold visitors (that area also has the badge system that allows access to the main area of the building). The measure means visitors must check in at the office before being allowed access to the main building, versus being able to walk to classrooms themselves, Carpenter said.

There also is another security feature to keep an eye on students.

“We also have a camera system throughout the interior of the building, as well as a number of exterior locations,” Carpenter said, adding the system allows her staff to see who is at the front door, as well as monitor visitors, staff and students in and around the school building.

Carpenter said the only real change the measures have made in student lives is that they have to wait to be let out of the school office before going back to their classrooms. But, the effort is worth it, she said.

“We absolutely feel more secure,” she said. “We feel more secure knowing we aren’t going to have unauthorized persons on the playground or other areas of the property. We also feel more comfortable knowing that students are safe and contained on the playground. We have appropriate measures in place that allow staff and students to enter and exit the building as needed.”