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District outlines HB84 compliance work: vestibules, locks, panic alerts and funding gaps
Summary
District safety staff told the board about ongoing work to meet HB84 requirements — secure entryways, classroom locks, panic alert devices and security film — and said they have pursued grants but must still solve personnel funding for school guardians and the long‑term cost of ballistic film on glass.
Lane Findlay, district safety lead, and Casey (district technology/security coordinator) told the board the district has been proactive on school safety and is now working to meet new state requirements in HB84.
"We started this journey about eight years ago...we started working on improving safety and security at all of our schools," Lane said, and noted the state mandate for secure single point entryways (vestibules) and other measures has deadlines stretching up to about ten years for certain requirements. He said the district has installed secure entry vestibules at most schools, tested safety film, added safety blinds, and installed many classroom locks ahead of new mandates.
Casey described the district’s audio enhancement/panic alert rollout. "By the fall of 2025 we’ll have approximately 52% of the schools done," he said, noting the system can triangulate the location of a pressed panic button and — depending on configuration — either send the alert directly to dispatch or route it through the school office. The district reported roughly $5.2 million spent so far on audio/panic systems; estimates to retrofit the remaining 23 schools are about $6.7 million.
Lane described funding sources the district has used or sought: $1.94 million from a 2024 school safety grant, roughly $850,000 from SR2 and $1,850,000 from SR3 for audio/panic devices, and a recent $2.9 million award from the USBE school safety grant for door locks. The district has applied for an additional $6.12 million for audio enhancement and $757,000 for first‑aid/bleed kits under the state grant process; total statewide school safety granting was described in session as $100 million split across programs.
On personnel requirements in HB84, Findlay said the law requires an armed person in every school (an officer, contracted security, or a trained volunteer "guardian") unless exceptions apply (for example, small schools under 350 students near another school). He described recent changes to cost‑sharing with law enforcement for school resource officers: the district pays about 70% of SRO costs (up from 50%), increasing the SRO budget from $633,000 to about $1.4 million with new schools added. He said the initial cost to add one trained guardian at a school (fit‑to‑carry assessment, range, ammunition) is about $28,000, with recurring annual assessment/training costs; the district has seen limited volunteer interest so far.
Findlay flagged one of the state's largest future expenses will be mandated security film or ballistic glass on certain windows and entryways, particularly in newer buildings with extensive exterior and interior glass. He cited an example cost of $215 per square foot for bullet‑resistant glazing.
Board members discussed possible funding strategies — state grants, district capital, local foundations — and asked about timelines. Findlay said many mandates have staggered deadlines and the district is farther along than most, but still faces significant costs and policy choices about whether to hire paid guardians, broaden SRO coverage, or contract private security.
