North Carolina School Secures Exterior Doors with New Security System

North Carolina School Secures Exterior Doors with New Security System

Mitchell High School has added a new security system to all exterior doors of its building.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • June 18, 2019

Mitchell High School has added a new security system to all exterior doors of its building.

The new system was installed during spring break. According to Kim Hodshon, Mitchell County Schools Executive Director of Facilities, the system cost the district $10,625.

There is now a small panel with a fob-scanning device on every exterior door of the school building. A fob with a unique serial number is issued to each Mitchell High student. When scanned at the door, the fob allows that student access to the school.

There is also a doorbell and a camera installed at the main doors of the school. Parents or other visitors to the school ring the bell, state their business to the front office staff inside and are admitted if appropriate.

The new door system has been in operation in a trial period since May 23. According to Mitchell Principal Mark Woody, he hopes to see the system fully in place and integrated for use by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

Woody announced the new system in an email to students on May 23.

“Think of this as a means of keeping everyone safe,” Woody said. “This trial period will help us work out the kinks for the full implementation next school year.”

Every student is required to have a fob, which will be assigned to them when they check out their laptop computers for the year come fall. There is a $5 replacement fob fee and a $2 fee for the lanyard to which the fob is attached.

“When you access each door, your unique fob is recorded,” Woody said. “We do not want these lost or washed in the washing machine.”

In his email, Woody emphasized that students should not lose their fob or loan their fob to non-school staff.

“You would not want to loan or give your fob to any non-school personnel,” Woody said. “You are responsible for this fob as you would be with the key to your house. Please make sure it is either on your key ring or lanyard.”

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular