Montana District Updating School Security Measures

Montana District Updating Elementary School Security Measures

Butte, Mont., school administrators are making changes to elementary school campuses to update security and protect students.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • June 25, 2019

Butte, Mont., school administrators are making changes to elementary school campuses to update security and protect students.

“Due to the climate we’re in, you know, with school shootings, we’ve needed to take this step,” said Dennis Clague, business director for the Butte School District.

Clague told NBC Montana that one of the security problems right now is that just about anyone can walk freely into the Kennedy, Emerson and Hilcrest elementary campuses.

“People have voiced concerns, you know, ‘Hey, I was dropping my kid off at school, and I noticed that anybody could walk in,’” Clague said.

Clague said the three elementary campuses will receive new security features this summer, like cameras and secure vestibules. The renovations, which will cost an estimated $800,000 for each of the three campuses, are part of the $35 million school bond approved by voters in November.

According to Clague, one of the reasons the upgrades are so necessary is because of the age of the buildings themselves.

“These are things that nobody thought of 30, 40 years ago that we needed to address. Now they are,” Clague said.

Crews will begin work on Emerson first, then move on to Hilcrest and Kennedy campuses. Most of the work should be finished before classes begin again.

Clague said parents can expect “Comfort when you're sending your kids to school — that they're in a safe and secure environment,” this upcoming school year.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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