Southern Colorado Districts Using Grants to Add Secure Vestibules

Southern Colorado Districts Using Grants to Add Secure Vestibules

Several Southern Colorado school districts were awarded security upgrade funds by the state’s School Security Disbursement Grant Program.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • May 23, 2019

Several Southern Colorado school districts have received funding from the state’s School Security Disbursement Grant Program. The districts plan to use the funds on security improvements to improve safety on their campuses.

"I really don't want to be that school district that has something tragic happen," said Sean Goings, the Safety and Security Coordinator for Woodland Park School District.

Woodland Park School District received $334,910 in grant funding to improve security measures. The district will use the funds to add a new security vestibule and a new visitor screening system to every school in the district.

"Limiting that access is going to be helpful because we don't know when that door swings open, someone could be coming in with really good intentions, but who’s right behind them that will catch that door and mean to do harm," Goings said.

The new visitor check-in system will require every visitor to provide identification before entering a campus. The system is planned for implementation this fall, and the new security vestibules will be installed in Woodland Park schools by fall 2020.

Another district, District 11, was granted $647,014 in grant funding. District 11 will use the funds to install security vestibules at Howbert, Monroe and Grant Elementary Schools. The district is also upgrading the visitor management system throughout the district with help from matching funds.

Of D-11’s campuses, 10 more still need new security entrances. The district’s schools were built before security became the priority it is today.

"We continue to look for these grants and apply for these grants as we can because our general funds just aren't cutting it for those types of purposes," said Devra Ashby, Public Information Officer with D-11.

The District 11 upgrades will be finished by fall 2019.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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