Chartiers Valley School District implements new security protocols on school campus
New security protocols go effect Monday for the high school and middle school campus in the Chartiers Valley School District.
District Superintendent Dr. Daniel Castagna announced the new protocols on Sunday in an address to parents and families. The new protocols went into effect starting at 7 a.m.
At the start of the school day, students, and parents like Angela Anderson, know the routine. The new normal at Chartiers Valley School District is changing when it comes to security.
"We were notified via phone call, I think it was, Saturday, and then, they followed up with an email," Anderson said.
The announcement said the district would enhance the guard booth at the entrance. Then, after students enter the building for the day, the arm of the booth at the entrance to the high school and middle school campus will stay down.
Security guards will then stop and question all visitors at that booth. The security booth at the entrance will also allow the guard to see outside security cameras for constant surveillance.
I think [the security measures] are great with everything going on, you just never know, and the more security measures they have in place, the better," Anderson added.
A marked security vehicle will also be roving throughout the campus and patrolling all four school buildings throughout the day, guarding exterior entrances at the high school and student parking lots.
Last November, the district was closed and switched to remote learning after Allegheny County Police said a juvenile made threats against the district. It's unclear if the change in security protocols is related to the previous threat.
Anderson said she remembers "earlier this year, there [were] a couple of times the school was shut down for security measures. We didn't really know what was going on. We didn't have a lot of information. So that was concerning."
It's not clear if these security changes are related to that incident, but the increased safety comes as a welcome change to students' families.
"They love the school, yeah, they love the school. This is my son's first year in middle school," Anderson said. "Anything they can do to protect the kids is great and beneficial for all of us."
Dr. Castagna says the security changes are within the district's budget, which has already been approved.
