Utah schools discuss security measures in place for student protection

KAYSVILLE — The Connecticut school shooting has a lot of parents wondering about the security in their kid's schools and there is one Utah school that seems to be about as secure as one can get.

Endeavour elementary school in Kaysville is an architectural wonder. It may not look extraordinarily secure but as you enter, the main interior doors are locked. The door to the office is the only way in and large windows allow the staff to see everyone outside.

"We can see everyone who enters," said Endeavour Principal Beth Johnston. "It's very visible."

Day of shock and mourning puts focus on children's safety

As the country mourns the deaths of 26 people, including 20 children, slain at an elementary school in Connecticut, parents in Utah and throughout the country are questioning the safety of their own children and what is in place to protect them from violence.

Johnston is proud and relieved by the design.

"Often if we don't know them, we have them show ID," Johnston said. "Every door is locked, and we feel that kids are really safe here."

Endeavor is one of newer schools in Utah, only a couple years old, that factored visitor security into its design.

All school districts do require visitors to check in at the office. But especially in older schools, a visitor can get access to the school without checking in.

"Unfortunately we live in a society in which we go to the grocery store, we go to the mall, we go to the theater, where there isn't a lot of security," said Chris Williams, Davis School district spokesman. "And so, that's the situation in our schools as well."

Like the Davis district, most districts in Utah have strict visitor policies. Granite has its own police force, but spokesman Ben Horsley says even that can't be a guarantee.

"So everything that can be done, short of turning our schools into prisons, is being done to keep our kids safe," Horsley said.

As Endeavour students gather after school, it's heartbreaking for teachers to hear about the news in Connecticut. And they are thankful for their school.

"I loved having the locked doors, I do," said Endeavour teacher Karen WIllmore. "I appreciate the fact that security is an issue, and we take it seriously and the doors are locked at all times."

Canyons School District has already trained students and staff for active shooter situation

Just last June, Alta High School underwent a potentially frightening transformation and held a large-scale drill to train everyone on how to react in an active shooter situation.

"We just felt the need to just go one step further," said Kevin Ray, Canyons School District's Risk Management Coordinator.

Police stormed the school and classrooms of students and educators hunkered down inside.

"It can happen anywhere, anytime. So we need to be prepared as a school district," Ray said.

He organized the active-shooter scenario drill involving about 300 parents, students, law enforcement, and teachers. The drill took several months of planning.

Ray is already thinking about how to adjust and improve their techniques.

"I don't think you can ever be prepared for everything, but you can spend all the time needed," Ray said. "You can spend every day, just making sure you're doing everything."

In the coming weeks, he plans to meet with law enforcement and administrators to somehow learn from a heart-wrenching assault on both adults and young children. Unfortunately, in today's world, Ray has a job that is constantly changing.

"We will definitely key-in on our elementary schools," Ray said. "Get all the facts from Connecticut, put it all out on the table, and see and make sure we're covering all our bases. Continuously, continuously trying to improve."

Schools in the Canyons District, already have cameras and card-access locks. Ray says the big change in focus will be taking these active shooter scenarios that are often done at high schools and looking at how that can apply at elementary schools.

Email:manderson@ksl.com

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