Sally Ports to Beef Up Security at Monroe's Schools

As early as last fall, Monroe Public Schools had a safety and security committee assess ways to make its buildings safer, but then the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School happened on Dec. 14.

Efforts to increase school security rose to become a top priority of Monroe and the rest of the nation. Supt. of Schools James Agostine says securing the front entrance is vital.

"One of the things we know about school shootings is they all come through the front door," he said. "So you want the front entrance to be really secure."

The more time a shooter has to get shots off before police arrive, the more damage can be done, so Agostine said anything that can slow an intruder coming into a building and increase the response time of police should be done.

It should be noted that certain aspects of the school district's security plan cannot be released to the public, otherwise a would-be attacker could use the information to his advantage. Much of the discussions between police, town and school officials has been taking place in private executive sessions.

However, some aspects are public. For instance, Monroe's schools will have sally ports at the entrances and bollards to prevent vehicles from being used to smash through the front doors. All buildings are already equipped with security cameras that are monitored by police.

"The quicker we can get officers in the better," Agostine said. "That's why police want a visual into the building."

Honeywell Building Solutions, a company hired to upgrade the energy efficiency of Monroe's school buildings, has agreed to install double sets of locks for interior and exterior doors as part of its contract with the town.

On Thursday night, Dylan Albach, a project manager for Honeywell, joined Agostine, the school district's technology director, Jack Zamary, and Finance Dir. Gabriella DiBlasi, in presenting a special permit application for a sally port at Monroe Elementary School, 375 Monroe Turnpike, to the P&Z Commission.

Money for the project is already in the town budget.

Agostine said a sally port with double locks on the interior and exterior doors would also give school staff good "visual command" of the space. 

"For Monroe Elementary, we will have to construct an outside vestibule to the main entrance of the building," Agostine said. "This is the only one with that issue."

The vestibule would be approximately 10-by-16 feet and have four doors going into it.

An open wall in the hallway with glass will allow people from the front office double check who is coming into the building, according to Agostine.

Zamary said "multiple" concrete bollards in front of the building would be narrow enough that a car cannot get through, but wide enough for a wheelchair. 

Albach said LED lights for school entrances will be brighter, but more energy efficient. 

Though news of the tragedy in Sandy Hook was broadcast all over the world, Agostine noted that the problems of school shootings has been more widespread in the U.S.  

"There have been 44 school shootings since Columbine," he said. "Most people don't realize that."