Dothan City Schools Investing in Added Layers of Security Near School Entrances
DOTHAN, Ala. – The Dothan City Schools administration and Board of Education remain committed to providing a safe environment for students and staff. DCS is investing in additional security measures at the entrances of K-12 schools – adding a layer of safety for students and staff.
Through the Partnership Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS), which provides best practice recommendations for school environment security and school safety investment guidance, plans are in motion to upgrade all remaining vestibules at district school buildings. The secure vestibules will accommodate the weapons detection systems already in place at Dothan City Schools.
The Carver School for Mathematics, Science and Technology, Girard Elementary, Kelly Springs Elementary, Highlands Elementary, Hidden Lake Primary, Heard Elementary and Morris Slingluff Elementary are the remaining schools to receive the security enhancements. Once completed, secure vestibules will be in place at every Dothan City Schools K-12 school building.
“The Partnership Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) recognizes the value of controlled access in our schools,” said Steve Parrish, DCS School Safety Coordinator. “Secure vestibules are an important part of this benchmark. The project is one of the top recommendations from our threat assessment completed in 2021. They create a layer of security that is almost as important as having an SRO at each school.”
Last year, the Dothan City Schools Board of Education approved the secure vestibules project for the six DCS schools, along with other expenditures.
“We are committed to continuing our layered security approach to keeping our schools safe as we embrace the culture of safety mindset,” Parrish said.
The Alabama State Department of Education provides support to local school districts through Advancement and Technology Funding. The vestibule projects, along with the Dothan Board of Education’s approval to resurface the parking lots at Carver 9th Grade Academy and Dothan High School, are expected to cost just over $2.9 million.
Dothan City Schools’ Department of Maintenance Services is responsible, in part, with providing a safe environment in our school facilities.
“Secure vestibules are great because it allows the school personnel to manage more closely who has access to the interior of the building while also being able to bring them into the vestibule and be able to further help them,” said Sharla Godwin, Director of DCS Facilities and Maintenance. “The doors are fobbed-controlled for staff members and all guests have to be buzzed into the vestibule for service. You can easily keep track of who is coming and going. It will be great that all of our schools from Preschool up to the High School will have these secure vestibules.”
Bid advertisement is set to begin mid-January with open bids expected no later than March. Construction should occur for the remaining vestibule upgrades during DCS summer break this year.
“It is common practice to keep all the doors locked, but this added protection is another great level of additional security measure for all staff and students to be able to feel safe in their hallways and classrooms each day,” Godwin explained. “It should also give parents more peace of mind knowing that all DCS campuses will have these new additions.”
The secure vestibule projects across the district are expected to be completed by the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
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