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Local schools implementing new safety, security measures this year

Posted at 10:20 PM, Aug 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-01 22:20:20-04

LEE COUNTY, Fla., - In just 9 days, kids across Southwest Florida are going to be filling up their backpacks again, boarding buses and heading back to school.

But while kids have been off the last couple of months, the Lee County School District says it’s been working hard to make sure your child’s school is as safe and secure as possible this upcoming year.

“Always wanting to make sure we’re providing the best we can for our students knowing what could happen if things are not done properly every day,” said Ed Matthews, principal at South Fort Myers High School

The goal is to prevent another tragedy like Parkland.

 “It’s unfortunate but we have to train people in active shooter response and how they would have to respond,” said Rick Parfitt, director of safety and security for Lee County Public Schools. “We need to train all of our staff, teachers, staff, bus drivers, everyone involved on what to look for, behaviors to look for.”

The District is also installing new technology to make schools more secure.

Technology such as red lock doors that allow teachers to lock the door from the inside of a classroom and single point of entry systems so every visitor will have to enter the school the same way.

Charlotte County and Collier County Public Schools are also implementing a front door security check in this year.

The Charlotte County School District says it has also hired additional mental health staff as well as school resource officers.

In a release to parents, the District cited ‘the tragedy at Parkland’ as the reason for the changes.

With more than 90 schools to outfit, the Lee County School District says it’s going to take some time to install the single point of entry systems at every school but they expect to have them all complete sometime this school year.