Increased Security in Clinton Township Schools May be New Normal

Three weeks, including a holiday break, have passed in Clinton Township schools since the , but security remains at an all-time high in both districts.

Like countless districts across the state and country, in the days following the shooting.

In Chippewa, those measures are due to remain in place until further notice, wrote Superintendent Ron Roberts in a recent letter to parents. However, the pre-break ban on outdoor recess at the elementary level has been lifted. 

Enhanced security measures include:

• All perimeter doors, including main entrances, will be locked during school hours.  
• These main doors will be monitored by school staff and security personnel at the high schools.  
• Visitors to the school must be prepared to show photo identification and provide a reason for their visit. This includes all parent volunteers that are scheduled to work in district buildings.

“Moving forward we will be vigilant in our continued review and assessment of our safety protocols as they relate to the daily operation of our schools," Roberts wrote. "And based on the important feedback from you, our parents, we will continue to implement changes to our procedures that allow our students to enjoy a normal day at school while still providing the necessary security precautions.”

L'Anse Creuse, which implemented similar security measures prior to the holidays, says it plans to maintain a high level of security but has not reinstated all pre-break measures.

Prior to the break, all main entrances at elementary and junior high schools were locked during the school day as were all classroom doors while class was in session.

Post-break, the district said one main door at each school, and interior classroom doors, will remain unlocked. In the case of the elementary and middle schools, the unlocked main door leads directly into the main office, while main entrances at the high schools continue to be monitored by staff, according to the LCPS website.

"Classroom doors are unlocked during school hours and everyone is much more relaxed," said James Coller, L'Anse Creuse North senior. "With all of the classroom doors being locked, classrooms were being interrupted frequently and it was more of a distraction. With all of the other security measures in place, I still feel perfectly safe at school."

In Fraser Public Schools, office staff members continue to screen and buzz visitors into elementary buildings through a secure, controlled entryway and all exterior doors at the elementary and secondary buildings remain locked during the school day, save for main entrances, which are manned at all times during the school day by district personnel. Fraser also enforces the photo ID requirement for visitors.

What security measures should districts implement on a permanent basis?