Buildings were already set up so that visitors were buzzed in, but the improvements add an extra layer of security, according to the district. Fairfield North Elementary added a new glass partition that directs visitors to the office so they are not able to enter hallways without first being buzzed in by staff members, according to Weiser. A new security camera also allows office employees to see who is at the entrances. Keypads were also added at cafeteria and teachers’ entrances.
Fairfield South added a glass partition to funnel visitors to the office, along with a security camera, an intercom, and monitors at the front desk. Keypads were added to the teachers’ entrance and a rear entrance.
Fairfield East didn’t need a glass wall, but it did get a camera and intercom system at the entrance, and keypads were installed near a kitchen entrance and a teacher’s entrance.
Fairfield West got a partition to direct visitors into the office and had the entryway enlarged. A keypad was added at the gym/cafeteria door, and a camera was placed a the front entrance.
Fairfield Middle School had keypads added from a parking lot entrance and the teacher’s parking lot. Monitors and buzzer entry systems were also added to the front office.
Fairfield Intermediate School had the most amount of work done, including a wall at the front area, as well as 16 cameras to monitor all the stairwell entrances and exists, Weiser said. Two keypads were added to the front entrance area as well.
Fairfield High School had a camera placed at the front door, with two monitors and entry buttons for the office employees.
Fairfield Central and Freshman will be demolished at the end of the 2016-2017 school year and replaced by new buildings, so they had relatively little work done to them, Weiser said. That work included new cameras for the front doors.
Fairfield Academy did not get upgrades, as it was not completed when the district applied for the grant last year, said Superintendent Paul Otten.
“I can tell you, being a parent in the district, there’s been a lot of positive feedback. My youngest is at West, and we’ve had a lot of parents who have been really pleased … prior to this, obviously, we felt our buildings were very safe, but we looked at this as enhancing what we’re doing,” he said.
Carrie O’Neal, one of the presidents of Intermediate’s parent-teacher organization, said of the improvements, “I think it’s great. We want to do whatever we can to keep our kids safe, and I’m proud of the district for taking steps to ensure that.”
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