Washington School District Upgrades Security for Elementary Schools

Washington School District Upgrades Security for Elementary Schools

Pullman School District has upgraded their three elementary schools, Sunnyside, Jefferson and Franklin Elementary school which security upgrades.

  • By Kaitlyn DeHaven
  • August 14, 2019

Pullman School District decided their three elementary schools – Sunnyside, Jefferson and Franklin Elementary schools – needed security upgrades before students came back to school this year.

Pam Brantner, the Sunnyside Elementary principal, said that gun violence is a reality, and the school must accommodate for that.

"It's scary in the fact of gun violence and school shootings, but it's brought us to be a closer-knit community," said Sunnyside Elementary principal Pam Brantner.

The changes include electronic locks, new cameras and a revamped entry system, all of which are at least $43,000 combined.

District officials said that Sunnyside was the most difficult to retrofit, as the school has four possible entry points in the building’s foyer. Thanks to the new system, all of these entrances will stay locked until the school secretary buzzes someone in.

"Kids are safer at schools than they've ever been," said district executive director of operations Joe Thornton. "Some people are gonna be inconvenienced, some people are gonna be frustrated, but I think the vast majority of people will support this change."

Bantner said since you never know when danger might hit, the schools are trying to stay as prepared as possible.

"A lot of students know or see the news or watch what's happening in the world today and I think it's a frightful time for them," Brantner said. "It hits close to home. You can try and be as prepared as you can, but you never know."

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Rethinking Campus Security From the Inside

    For decades, campus security strategies focused on keeping threats outside school walls. But since the tragedy at Columbine High School, data has shown that many attacks begin inside the building, often in classrooms and corridors. This shift has prompted schools to rethink security from the inside and place greater emphasis on interior elements such as classroom doors. This shift is evidenced by a new generation of classroom door systems engineered to delay inside intruders and an ASTM standard that raises the bar on how these systems must be designed to defend against attack. Read Now

  • AI in Security: Advancing Campus Safety and Considerations for Implementing

    Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to capture attention across every sector, and the physical security industry is no exception. Once seen as experimental, AI-enabled analytics now underpin how organizations monitor environments, detect threats, and make decisions. What was once futuristic is now a practical necessity for safety professionals managing growing volumes of data, tighter resources, and increasing expectations for faster, more accurate responses. Read Now

  • How Cloud Security Solutions Are Transforming Campus Safety

    Campus administrators today face a challenging mandate: deliver stronger security across their facilities while working within tighter budget constraints. From school districts focused on student safety to hospitals protecting patients and staff, the question remains the same: how do you build security infrastructure that evolves with your needs without requiring massive capital investments? Read Now

  • 77% of Americans Support Gun Detection Technology in Schools, Workplaces, and Houses of Worship

    More than three-quarters of Americans (77.4%) believe gun detection technology should be deployed in schools, workplaces, and other public spaces, according to new survey data released recently. The national survey shows strong support for incorporating camera-based gun detection into existing video surveillance systems. Read Now

Most   Popular