Oklahoma District Bond Includes Security Measures

Oklahoma District Bond Includes Security Measures

The Edmond Public Schools current bond issue includes shatter-resistant window film, new video surveillance equipment and ID badges for secondary school students.

The Edmond Public Schools current bond issue includes shatter-resistant window film, new video surveillance equipment and ID badges for secondary school students.

Edmond Public Schools Superintendent Bret Towne told Fox 25 News that it’s important to think about security in the current climate and do what you can to protect students.

"All you can do is take all the opportunities that you can to try to slow people down if they're wanting to harm," Towne said. "To delay them, to keep them out of the building."

According to Towne, the district assembled their security plan after meeting with the community.

The district would add shatter-resistant film to all school windows. The film would make it more difficult for a shooter to enter the campus through the windows; Towne said it could take as long as two and a half minutes to get in through the film.

"In two a half minutes, people are out of areas," Towne said. "They're locked down, they're out of the school and law enforcement is here."

Towne described the shatter-resistant window film as a subtler security measure.

"Hopefully this is one they don't even see or notice that it's there," Towne said. "That's what you want in security. You want something that works but is not intrusive."

Safety measures for Edmond Public Schools also include automatically locking entrances and a buzz-in system for visitors. The district hopes the measures help increase safety and security for its campuses.

"I think it's just intuitive that we want to provide that safe cocoon of a building where kids don't have to worry about safety," Towne said.

The bond totals $93 million, and voters will decide on it next Tuesday.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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