Alabama District Steps up Physical Security on Campuses

Alabama District Steps up Physical Security on Campuses

Madison County Schools are improving physical security at all campuses in the district to protect students.

Madison County Schools are improving physical security at all campuses in the district to protect students.

When asked about security projects for the upcoming school year, district security officials said they plan to add bulletproof windows, more security cameras and outdoor speaker systems to all 29 district schools.

"We're here to protect the kids, and protect the kids first. That's our No. 1 priority. That's the way we're going to keep it at all times," said Kerry Wilkerson, Chief Operations Officer. Wilkerson oversees many of the district’s safety and security initiatives.

According to Wilkerson, one of the district’s first projects is to implement a concept called “total doors.” A “total door” is a two-layer door, positioned in the front office of a school. It will allow school staff to access the school using keycards, and can be locked down at any point to contain a threat to one small area.

"If somebody gets past that first barrier, we want a second barrier before they can actually get to the kids," Wilkerson said.

Madison County Schools will also be installing an outdoor speaker system at each campus during the summer. The outdoor speaker system will allow the schools to alert everyone if a threat happens on campus.

"If you're outside playing […] they'll have an area to go to and they'll hear it from the loud, outside speakers," Wilkerson said.

Wilkerson said the district’s new safety plan includes several additions they’ll be implementing as time goes on.

"So, we've made a lot of improvements, and we're going to be finished with a majority of them this summer, but we have a lot more we want to keep doing years forward," he said.

The district will pay for the upgrades using part of the $40 million in federal money it received to help with its increasing population.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now