Bexley City Schools details security upgrades, training and police coordination in annual update

BEXLEY — Dr. Harley Williams, the district’s director of facilities and operations, told the Bexley City Schools board that the district has focused this year on practical security upgrades, training and faster communications to reduce risks to students and staff.

"Statistically speaking, schools are safe places," Williams said in his presentation, but added that the district must "prepare for the worst" by improving detection, deterrence and response. He outlined a series of measures the district has implemented, including automatic exterior door locks, interior quick locks for classrooms and Bluetooth- or code-based access for staff and controlled student access for after-hours extracurricular events.

Williams said the district used Bexley police officers plus an outside security consultant to complete vulnerability studies and identified strengths such as door-locking systems, staff–student relationships and close proximity to the police department. "I think we have 4 officers within a 2 square mile radius all the time, so they're on-site within 3 minutes," he said, describing rapid local response as a key layer of protection.

The district also upgraded communications and alarm systems. Williams described a locally supported notification system that sends instant alerts to every staff member when an alarm is triggered and said radios are programmed with a two-second push-button connection to the Bexley dispatcher for immediate help. He said dead spots discovered in areas such as a weight room were addressed with radio amplifiers and that about 125 district radios provide broader coverage.

On training, Williams said the district has moved beyond a single "lockdown" response to teach staff multiple options—lockout, get out and take out—so staff can choose a response based on the situation. The district has adopted threat-assessment practices drawing on elements of the University of Virginia and Secret Service models, conducts tabletop and functional exercises to avoid traumatic full-scale drills, and trains threat-assessment teams every three years.

Williams highlighted non-structural steps as well: all schools are listed as Project Adam AED-certified and the district published an "evacuation guidelines for persons with disabilities" manual to ensure students with mobility needs have individualized plans in IEPs or 504s; first responders are designated for rescue if needed. He also described the Stay Safe Speak Up anonymous reporting tool, monitored around the clock, which district staff use to request well-checks or other interventions.

Williams cited data to focus the district’s priorities: he said about 90% of school shooting incidents are over within 10 minutes, which underscores the need for quick notification and fast response, and noted national suicide statistics when urging attention to mental-health signals reported through anonymous tools.

He recommended continuing close collaboration with the Bexley Police Department, the district’s security consultant and other first responders as priorities for his successor. Williams also announced that this school year will be his last after 26 years with the district and 39 years in education: "this 26 year in Bexley is gonna be my last," he said.

Board members and attendees asked clarifying questions about timeline and approvals for the district’s three-year emergency plan; Williams said local police and the fire department sign off on plans before submission to the Ohio School Safety Center and that the next plan cycle is expected in 2027. Several parents and board members thanked Williams for his leadership and comprehensive briefing.

The presentation did not include any formal motions or votes. The board closed the item after questions and expressions of appreciation; no policy changes were adopted at the meeting.