School staff describe unsecured entrances and back referendum to fund upgrades

A school staff member said the high school's front hallway allows visitors to enter directly into the building and reach classrooms, creating a safety concern for students and employees. "We're in the front hallway of the high school. Visitors will come into this door, and then enter this 2nd door, which puts them, directly into the building and have access to all our classrooms and all our hallways," the staff member said.

Another school staff member described the district's check-in procedure: "When people come there's a speaker and doorbell that they can ring. It rings at my desk and I can unlock the door," the staff member said, adding that "there's nothing stopping them once they've come inside." The speakers said the existing buzzer-and-door process lets staff screen visitors but does not prevent them from accessing corridors after entry.

The first staff member said the three elementary schools and the high school "all have entrances that aren't secure, according to the state of Wisconsin," and urged fixes that would force visitors to check in at a main office so staff can confirm who is in the building and why.

A presenter supporting a referendum on the ballot said the measure would fund those upgrades. "This referendum will provide major improvements on safety so that every student can learn in a safe and appropriate environment," the presenter said. The speakers framed the referendum as the means to bring building entrances into compliance and to centralize visitor check-in.

No formal motion or vote was recorded in the provided transcript. The exchange focused on describing current vulnerabilities, the state assessment of entrances as not secure, and the referendum as the proposed funding route for improvements. Next steps (such as specific projects, timelines, or board actions) were not specified in the transcript.