As I promised at the beginning of my look into security at Clay Community Schools, I want to address some of the questions and comments left on my stories or e-mailed to me. I also want to talk about some of the process of putting these articles together, in hopes that it will facilitate a more open dialogue about improving our schools.

Reader questions:

If the school is locked, and there is only one way to access, through the office, what if there is trouble inside? Guns brought to school and such. Is there a back up to where somebody can get into the school if need be?

I hate thinking that way, but last year Northview had a scare, where they thought students might have brought guns into the school.

-- Posted by loulou

Good question. Most doors, especially those that have been updated to ADA standards, are locked to the outside, but can be opened from the inside when locked. Also, one of the issues being looked at in the renovation project is to replace old windows so they are large enough to have someone crawl through to escape.

Lockdowns not only prevent chaos during outside intrusions into student safety, but they also limit the amount of damage done during an inside issue.

I am scared for my children everyday, sending them to the Clay Community Schools, but options are limited. So thank you Melinda for helping facilitate a safer school system.

-- Posted by unoit on Fri, Nov 30, 2007, at 2:57 PM

I want to reassure readers the school corporation is constantly working to improve students' safety. My intention was not to create fear, but to acknowledge the fact there are ways to improve the current situation.

I think this is a very positive thing, both doing an article so that everyone knows this is serious and the school hiring some one to tackle this matter. My question... where is the money coming from to pay this person? And who is on this safety committee? We need to know some names so we can contact them with questions

-- Posted by hollyann on Fri, Nov 30, 2007, at 1:43 PM

Lynn Stoelting, the School Safety Specialist, is a corporation employee. She is the school nurse for Forest Park and Jackson Township Elementary Schools. As far as I know, she is not further compensated for her role as Safety Specialist. Many of the advisors from the Department of Education have come without cost. I am not if/sure how Dr. Boyd was paid for his feasibility study.

The school-level safety committees consist of principals, teachers, non-certified staff (cafeteria workers, janitors) and local law enforcement. The corporation-wide committee is made up of administrators and members of the school-level committees.

Thank you Melinda for finally taking on this serious issue. Too many in this community downplay the dangers our kids and faculty face every day in this changing world. Contrary to popular belief Clay County is not MAYBERRY, and the dangers ARE very real. Keep up the good work and we look forward to following your story.

-- Posted by studentsfirst on Fri, Nov 30, 2007, at 7:23 AM

I appreciate you bringing up the Mayberry topic -- I have heard some denial (from outside of the corporation) that CCS faces very modern issues. It is hard to imagine holding on to that belief after the gang issues at Northview and the shooting at Van Buren. I (sadly) wonder what it will take for some to realize there are some very real issues beyond throwing snowballs at recess that today's educators must face.

It's about time. It's ironic that this article briefly mentions internal incidents because those are the incidents that won't be made aware like they need to be; what school official is going to admit that they are failing to keep the students safe? And that is exactly what is happening now; the students safety and their right to an education is being compromised because the school corporation, until now, has done nothing. Northview has well over a thousand students and have had many issues, a great deal being "internal," involving the safety of the students, and yet they still cannot provide an on staff security guard. Why is that? Can't wait to see what the Brazil Times digs up.

-- Posted by Boilergirl on Thu, Nov 29, 2007, at 10:55 PM

There are two reasons for not mentioning the details of "internal" incidents. First, by revealing too many of the issues, some which may not be addressed until the funding becomes available, it gives those who would like to disrupt the learning environment ways to wreak havoc.

Also, there is a history of rumors being circulated and causing disruption, such as the situation at North Clay and Northview in May. Although it is frustrating not knowing everything that happens in your students' school day, it is sometimes better for the school community to not cause panic. Many times, the training the staff receives is enough to diffuse a situation.

In your article about the school board meeting there was a paragraph,

"Though the current proposed renovation project, enough money would be budgeted for each building to have a security vestibule, along with the means to completely replace doors, windows and other faulty hardware."

I was not aware of that... has there been a renovation project proposal that I am not aware of....

-- E-mailed by Trader Walt, December 9

The security vestibules were part of the proposal presented by the architects at the public meetings. The vestibules were not explained clearly, though. They were simply mentioned. The project proposal also included reconfiguration of offices for better visibility of entrances.

If you have a question, please do not hesitate to ask in the comment space below.