Post by title1parent on Oct 6, 2009 5:07:17 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1808357,2_1_1_AU06_GENSECURITY_S1-091006.article
Geneva gets C-minus grade on school security
October 6, 2009
By CHARLOTTE NORGAARD For The Beacon-News
GENEVA -- The Geneva School District has received several recommendations on how to improve its security.
School officials began studying the district's security measures a year-and-a-half ago with a districtwide evaluation by a national security firm.
"Effective security always follows extensive losses," Paul Timm, president of Lemont-based RETA Security, told School Board members last week.
RETA Security performed an audit of Geneva's school last year. They went through Geneva High School, one of the middle schools, and one elementary school to get an overview of the security practices that are already in place.
Timm made several recommendations based on the audit.
Among the recommended improvements were: posting of emergency dialing instructions on or near all of the district's phones; having operating intercoms in all of the buildings; and better identification of all school staff members, volunteers and visitors.
"Every visitor should wear a badge on a colored lanyard," Timm said.
Timm gave the district a letter grade of C-minus on their security procedures, when asked to give one by board member Tim Moran.
However, this did not indicate that Geneva has below-average security in its schools. Instead, he said, it is an indication that other districts that have tighter security have been forced to do so because of incidents that have already occurred.
The grade also is a result of Geneva's reputation for being a safe community.
"We are close to being in Mayberry," said Timm, who added that many people are resistant to the changes in security because there doesn't appear to be a need for it.
Superintendent Kent Mutchler was not surprise by the letter grade given by Timm, but added that many steps have already been taken based on his recommendations, including changing their entire badge and lanyard identification system,
"It didn't take me by surprise," he said. "We wanted to find out what the issues were from people who do this on a regular basis."
Mutchler also said they are looking at strategic locations to place video cameras in the schools.
The district plans to put various security measures in place in the coming months.
Geneva gets C-minus grade on school security
October 6, 2009
By CHARLOTTE NORGAARD For The Beacon-News
GENEVA -- The Geneva School District has received several recommendations on how to improve its security.
School officials began studying the district's security measures a year-and-a-half ago with a districtwide evaluation by a national security firm.
"Effective security always follows extensive losses," Paul Timm, president of Lemont-based RETA Security, told School Board members last week.
RETA Security performed an audit of Geneva's school last year. They went through Geneva High School, one of the middle schools, and one elementary school to get an overview of the security practices that are already in place.
Timm made several recommendations based on the audit.
Among the recommended improvements were: posting of emergency dialing instructions on or near all of the district's phones; having operating intercoms in all of the buildings; and better identification of all school staff members, volunteers and visitors.
"Every visitor should wear a badge on a colored lanyard," Timm said.
Timm gave the district a letter grade of C-minus on their security procedures, when asked to give one by board member Tim Moran.
However, this did not indicate that Geneva has below-average security in its schools. Instead, he said, it is an indication that other districts that have tighter security have been forced to do so because of incidents that have already occurred.
The grade also is a result of Geneva's reputation for being a safe community.
"We are close to being in Mayberry," said Timm, who added that many people are resistant to the changes in security because there doesn't appear to be a need for it.
Superintendent Kent Mutchler was not surprise by the letter grade given by Timm, but added that many steps have already been taken based on his recommendations, including changing their entire badge and lanyard identification system,
"It didn't take me by surprise," he said. "We wanted to find out what the issues were from people who do this on a regular basis."
Mutchler also said they are looking at strategic locations to place video cameras in the schools.
The district plans to put various security measures in place in the coming months.