The delicate balance of security, schools — Gazette.Net

Keeping children safe without making schools look like prisons is proving to be a challenge for Prince Georges County officials.

For example, a plan is under way to place six-foot-high, chain-link fences around temporary trailers at all county schools to protect classes from outsiders. Unfortunately, University Park officials and residents were unaware of the plan, which not only may have violated the towns fence ordinance, but was also criticized for making the school site look like a correctional facility.

As a result, the fence being constructed at University Park Elementary School was halted when it was nearly complete to give officials time to determine whether it meets town code.

First, lets start by lauding school officials for being aggressive in doing what they feel is best for students. While security measures have been beefed up at all county schools, concerns have lingered about easy access to the temporary classrooms, which arent attached to the main buildings. The fences are intended to better secure those structures. Sixty-two schools are slated to get the fences, which will cost up to $20,000 per school.

We want to set up an environment where [children] dont have to worry about outside influences, Rex Barrett, the school systems acting director of security services, told Gazette reporter Alice Popovici.

However, the school systems plan suffers largely in one area: the lack of coordination with the community.

Had better communication been in place, perhaps the school system would have known about University Parks four-foot limit on fences.

And perhaps parents, officials and the community at large would have proposed other affordable measures that would allow for security without bringing a penitentiary-like appearance.

Some parents voiced concern that the fence would trap children if an emergency occurred. Clearly, school officials have some work to do in communicating their efforts. Explaining how the security measures will work in various scenarios may allay some fears for parents and children or result in some better options.

Its sad that schools are no longer the safe refuge they were once considered. Dangers from people in and outside schools have forced officials to rethink how schools are managed, constructed and monitored.

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The delicate balance of security, schools -- Gazette.Net