By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The St. Joseph School District has made some changes to the city high schools to emphasize school safety and security.
Director of Safety and Security Shannon Nolte says safety and security is the district's number one priority
"It supports the teaching and learning that has been talked about here today, it supports those in attendance, and it has to be our number one priority and it is," Nolte tells a group gathered at Coleman Elementary School.
Nolte says in the effort to prioritize safety many updates have been made over the last several years to the entrance of school buildings.
"The last three were the three high schools that have been finished this summer, if you enter one of those high schools, you'll notice a difference and the whole design around those is the safety and security of the staff and the students," Nolte explains.
Nolte says most of the high schools are current in safety procedures. But Nolte says himself and the district are always evaluating what other changes can be made.
"We are updating more camera systems in elementary schools this year, we've done that a lot in all the other middle schools, high schools, and some of the elementary schools," Nolte says. "Again, it's an investment that we take seriously because it is a number one priority."
Nolte says all of the district high schools are down to one entrance through the central office of the building. Nolte also adds all classroom doors will lock once they are closed.
Nolte says this year the district will also be implementing new procedures and intruder drill trainings into the schools.
"Working with the SRO's that we have in the district and the St. Joseph Police Department, we're designing some training for our staff in each of the buildings to make sure that when these situations come up, they are prepared and they are willing to respond appropriately and safely," Nolte elaborates.
Nolte says the St. Joseph Police Department is currently supplying six School Resource Officers between all the schools and one supervisor that flexes his location.
St. Joseph School District staff will be back in the buildings today. Classes begin on Monday.