Washington District Focuses on Controlling Access to Campuses
The vestibule will have an access button on the door itself as well as in the school office. Staff members with a building access card will be able to enter the campus, while other visitors will have to be authenticated before gaining access to student and staff areas.
- By Jessica Davis
- March 07, 2019
The Port Angeles School District is adding controlled access to all of its elementary and middle school buildings by installing security vestibules. The safety vestibules mean office staff must approve visitors before they’re allowed to enter the classroom areas in the building.
Port Angeles School District is starting by installing a safety vestibule at Jefferson Elementary School.
“It will be kind of our prototypical model that we’ll demonstrate to our community,” Superintendent Martin Brewer said. The vestibule at Jefferson Elementary will be completed by the end of spring break.
The vestibule will have an access button on the door itself as well as in the school office. Staff members with a building access card will be able to enter the campus, while other visitors will have to be authenticated before gaining access to student and staff areas.
According to Facilities Director Nolan Duce, the project at Jefferson will cost about $6,500.
“Port Angeles School District is dedicated to continuing to enhance security measures of this nature to protect our most important assets — our students and staff,” Brewer said.
Brewer said the district is also working with law enforcement to train staff on how to respond in an emergency such as an active shooter incident.
“They’ll talk about best practices around that horrifying school shooting event,” Brewer said. “Hopefully we’ll never need to use that, but we always need to be prepared.”
About the Author
Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.