Keeping students and staff safe while on campus is a priority for batesville school district (BSD)

BSD is one of the largest school districts in north-central AR and facilitates approximately 4,000 students and 520 staff members. Students and staff are spread out over 25 square miles in 5 multi-building campuses. In 2022, BSD attempted a millage increase to support the project: protect our pioneers (p:POP) and other district needs. Due to a rise in local taxes, the millage increase failed. After the events in uvalde, our district immediately began to think about securing the safety of our students and staff. BSD administration united in a collaborative effort to determine procedures and infrastructure to keep students and staff safe. Three strategies were identified as having the largest impact on safety and security. Based on recommendations, an outside security consultation team (SCT) evaluated our identified strategies. Securing primary entrances with access controls and secondary entrances with sensors were identified to have the biggest impact. Based on SCT recommendations, the phases of p:POP aligned to their suggested priorities. Phase i p:POP begins with securing entrances. Through recent state funding, we ordered access controls for all main entrances and high traffic areas at each campus. While this was a great use of funds, IT did not cover the costs of putting an access control on every door. BSD will still have approximately 150 locking doors with no access control or monitoring sensor. Secondary entrances do not alert if there is an issue (i.e. a door being propped open). We have cameras located at secondary entrances. However, BSD is unable to afford a dedicated person to constantly monitor cameras at each campus. The primary use of funding will go toward putting sensors on remaining doors, so our monitoring system will provide an alert when necessary. Phase II in the event of an emergency, seconds matter and being able to communicate quickly and efficiently can save lives. Phase 2 of p:POP will focus on ensuring two-way communication with staff and emergency personnel in the event a disaster occurs. BSD campuses buildings are old and well constructed. As a result, IT is difficult to get a cell phone signal in most of our buildings. In the event of an emergency, an emergency call from a cell phone may not be an option. In all but two of our campuses, they utilize an out of date antiquated intercom system. Therefore, repair parts are very expensive or impossible to obtain. Moving to a phone alert system requires only a network cable and a voip phone. Our system will allow US to set up paging groups, speed dials, and allow teachers to dial 911 directly from their classroom. Phase III batesville is a rural community with thick wooded areas that border our campuses. Phase III of p:POP will focus on installing security fencing in designated areas to guide foot traffic to more visible locations. Additionally, IT will prevent students from entering unmonitored areas.