When students stepped on campus earlier this month, there was one obvious change: all faculty members were wearing lanyards with an identification badge. While this new implementation is an attempt to increase security on the hilltop, students have been questioning the effectiveness of this new requirement.
As of now, the lanyards will not deter potentially threatening individuals because it is not uncommon for parents and guests to enter Hackley’s campus without one. Even Mr. King admitted this notion, but he believes that the lanyards may prompt students to speak up if they see someone on campus without a lanyard.
With more than 300 acres and many buildings, it is understandable that Hackley would have a bigger challenge determining effective security measures than a school comprised of a single building. Therefore, it is admirable that administrators are making great efforts to examine efficacious security options.
Hackley recently conducted a security audit in which an outside firm visited the campus on multiple occasions. “We are in the process of reviewing their recommendations and figuring out which ones we want to adopt and in what time table we want to adopt them,” said Mr. King.
Last year, Hackley added a second CJ Security officer to on-campus duty. This was a good and quick way to provide more security presence during the school day. Nonetheless, Hackley has at least six separate entrances to the various buildings surrounding the quad, which cannot possibly all be guarded at the same time.
Unlike many other schools, Hackley does not have one set place that is the “welcome area.” Many would refer to the quad as the center of the school but even on the quad there are many separate entrances. Mr. King noted that “a lot of schools have one place at the entrance of the school where people check in or enter, and the majority of the security is centered there.” However, Hackley does not have this simple layout, which makes the security issues more complex.
Although the current security is not as strong as it can potentially be, there is very little doubt that Hackley’s security is better than it has ever been. “The fact that Hackley is examining better security options is timely and appropriate, and we will ultimately be productive in making people feel more secure in our community,” said Mr. King.
Hackley’s faculty is vigilant to a possible security threat in the future; however, the faculty has done very little to prepare the student body about what to do in case of a security emergency.
In order to have a successful increase in overall security, it would be best for the lanyards to be considered “phase one.” Hackley will need to make other considerations and adjustments in order to effectively “beef up” security. Whether parents and visitors will have to sign in somewhere before they enter the school, or lockdown drills will take place to prepare for worse case scenarios, there is no doubt that in order to optimize security, more has to be done. Security should be an ongoing process.
Despite the need for more effective security, “the most secure community is one in which the people share in the vigilance,” said Mr. King. While more security personnel, systems, and procedures should always be considered, it is imperative that students and faculty alike take the initiative to help make Hackley safer each day. In many ways, we are the best protectors of our community.
