Michigan District Prioritizes Security with $225,900 in Planned Upgrades

Michigan District Prioritizes Security with $225,900 in Planned Upgrades

The Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education awarded a bid of $225,900 to a construction company on Monday for security upgrades in the district.

The Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education awarded a bid of $225,900 to a construction company on Monday for security upgrades in the district.

School security is a top priority for the district, MAPS Superintendent Bill Saunders said; however, the district still wants to balance safety with a welcoming environment.

“We want to have warm welcoming buildings,” Saunders said. “We want to encourage interaction with the community. At the same time, we’re also focused on adding layers of security to best protect our students.”

One of the planned upgrades includes a secure vestibule for the office area at Marquette Alternative High School. The full glass front won’t be changed, but there will be another set of doors added inside the main vestibule, Saunders said.

“It would be much more secure. It directs traffic through the main office,” he said.

The security upgrade bid also includes Avigilon hardware for two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school campus. The system will let the district add an element of access control.

“This is expensive technology, but it starts us on a track that we have complete door-access control for our visitors,” Saunders said. Office staff will be able to use a button to lock any door, and the doors can be programmed to open or close at any time.

Saunders said the district aims to have that security system in place on every door in the district.

In addition to the physical security, Saunders said they also want to focus on safety measures that aren’t tangible.

“We also need to focus on the mental well-being of our students,” Saunders said, “and that doesn’t happen through hardware and those type of things.”

There is not yet a timeline for when construction on the upgrades will begin.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • 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

  • Turning Surveillance Into Strategy: AI’s Role in Driving Proactive Security

    Video surveillance has long been part of the campus safety toolkit, indispensable for investigating security incidents after they occur and a valuable tool for proactive deterrent. Read Now

  • A.C. Camargo Cancer Center Enhances Security, Patient Care with Help from Advanced Video Surveillance

    A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, a leading oncology treatment center in São Paulo, Brazil recognized for its history of innovation, today announced that its partnership with Axis Communications has produced savings of more than $2 million over its first two years, all of which will be reinvested in patient care. A.C. Camargo has deployed more than 2,000 state-of-the-art video surveillance cameras throughout the Center’s corridors, complex care units, and parking lots, embracing a more holistic approach to security that emphasizes patient and employee safety along with improved quality of service. Read Now

  • 2025 Secure Campus Award Winners Announced

    Campus Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 Secure Campus Award winners. Twenty companies are being recognized this year for products that help keep education and business campuses safe. Read Now