Pennsylvania District to Secure New Elementary School

Pennsylvania District to Secure New Elementary School

The Allentown School District said its new elementary school campus will be secure from visitors, despite plans for the building to include community space open to the public.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • November 15, 2018

The Allentown School District said its new elementary school campus will be secure from visitors, despite plans for the building to include community space open to the public.

According to district officials, the new elementary school will have a community space, which could include early childhood education, a food pantry and health services.

The proximity of a public space to students had some residents questioning the safety and security of the idea at a community meeting held Monday night.

“You think that’s secure for little kids?” asked South Allentown resident Cathy Mickel.

“Absolutely,” Superintendent Thomas Parker said.

According to Parker, the building will include cutoffs in specific parts of the campus building, meaning the community space will be separated from the students. There will also be a double-secured locked door that visitors to the school will have to enter in order to sign in at the administration office.

Parker noted that other schools in the Allentown district have adult programs that bring visitors to their campuses, and the district also monitors security at those schools.

Facilities Director Tom Smith said that the district consulted Allentown police on the entrances and that the building complies with state police and FBI guidelines.

According to Parker, the district doesn’t yet know who will be in the community partnership space.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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