Panic Alarms, Safer Locks Installed in Valley View Schools

Valley View School District 365U has begun the process of upgrading security in all of its schools by installing buzzer entry systems, panic alarms, and intruder lock hardware and key tracking software.

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“In light of the events in Newtown, Connecticut in December, it is more important now than ever that we have these systems in place,” said Mike Lopez, Director of Facility Operations for VVSD in a release.

Since the incident in Newtown, VVSD Superintendent Dr. James Mitchem has ordered that the entrance doors in all 22 VVSD school offices remain locked during the school day. In most cases that has meant office personnel must get up from their desks each time to open the door for visitors with the proper credentials. The buzzer systems will allow staff to admit properly identified visitors while stationedat their desks.

The panic alarms are being installed at each school office. When pressed, these buttons will not only immediately alert the local police department but will also sound an easily recognizable alarm throughout the building that will alert every teacher to go into hard lockdown mode.

The keystone lock system will eventually allow school and district administrators to assign, reassign and collect keys from staff during the school year, and track the history of each key, according to Lopez.

“This will allow us to more effectively account for lost keys and will standardize all of our locks in a way that has never been done before,” he said.

Installation of all of the security devices should be complete in the spring.

READ MORE: 

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• Valley View Begins School Safety and Security Audits
• Parents Kept Out of Classroom Parties Part of Valley View Safety Measures

Editor's note: This press release was submitted by Valley View School District 365U.