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Parent urges district to keep school security officers despite single-entrance perimeters
Summary
A parent who attended a FEMA training told the board that visible security officers provide deterrence, immediate response in emergencies and day-to-day support; the remark came during public comment after discussion of budget cuts.
During the public-comment period, Mandy Stevens told the board she attended a FEMA training on school-based incident management and urged the district not to remove school security officers.
Stevens said that while perimeters and single-entrance systems are useful, they do not replace security personnel. "A perimeter might deter intruders, but if someone breaches it, a security officer can respond immediately," Stevens said, adding that officers coordinate with staff in medical, weather or security emergencies and that their daily presence provides visible deterrence and reassurance to students and teachers.
She described practical duties such as monitoring doors, assisting at parent pickup and drop off, managing entry and exit and participating in lockdown or incident coordination. As an example, Stevens said one building's single-door entry opens both doors at once and could allow an unverified person to enter; a security officer is often able to identify and manage entry.
Stevens offered the comments in the context of earlier discussion about budget cuts and building safety; the board did not take immediate action in response to the comment during the meeting.
