Resident urges board to move up secure entrance at Shawnee Heights Elementary

Erin Patrick told the Shawnee Heights Board she is asking the district to ‘move up and prioritize’ construction of the secure entrance at Shawnee Heights Elementary, a bond-funded improvement that she said has already been allocated funds. “I respectfully ask that you take action to prioritize this, honoring both the financial commitment that has already been made and the voices of the families who are asking for it now,” Patrick said, adding she currently has a petition with about 100 signatures.

Patrick argued a locked door alone does not provide the visitor-management practices she believes are baseline for school safety: an outdoor intercom or video call box for screening, ID proof and issuance of a visitor badge, and a controlled secondary door that remains locked until office staff complete screening. “That means there is a gap between entry and accountability. A gap that a secure entrance is specifically designed to close,” she said.

Board members thanked Patrick for speaking and several noted their appreciation and concern for student safety. A board member asked whether the secure-entrance plan approved in the bond included ID-scanning software; Superintendent Meggers replied that the bond discussion had authorized creating a new entrance directing visitors to the office but did not include ID-scanning systems. Board members suggested the safety committee evaluate whether affordable ID-scanning options exist now and recommended bringing that topic to committee discussion.

No formal vote or schedule change was made during the meeting. The board’s response was limited to thanking the patron and referring technical questions (for example, about ID-scanning equipment) to the safety committee for further review.