Putnam City Schools Equipped With New Security Measures

The Putnam City school district is taking safety to a whole new level this school year. All 27 of the district's schools will be equipped with new security measures designed to start the moment you step foot on a campus. 

As a visitor, you'll only be able to get as far as the front vestibule. New, tougher security plans were put in place immediately after the Newtown, Ct. school shooting.

It's only one of a few public school districts in the state where every school will have strict security measures in place literally as soon as you walk through the front door.

"So parents will be able to enter this first set of doors, and then again, they'll get to this second set of doors and they won't be able to get any place else," said Steve Lindley, Putnam City Schools. "These doors will be locked, and this door you see over here will be locked."

They will remain in the vestibule talking with school staff via video intercom before they can be buzzed into the office. Office staff will be able to plainly see the person in the vestibule before they enter the office.

"And so they'll ask them why they're here, what they need, and they'll admit them if they need to be admitted," Lindley said.

Lindley says once visitors are inside a school office, another buzzer comes into play before they're able to get into school hallways and classroom areas.

The security measures don't end there.

Putnam City school police have the ability to visually monitor and lock down a school building for whatever reason during an emergency.

"When I would hear what parents had to say, it was a sense of relief," said Lindley. "I think everyone understands that perfect security is hard to find, but there's always safer, and this is a safer thing."

District wide, there are currently more than 800 security cameras installed at Putnam City Schools.