... see Hot Topic Post on July 12, 2006 Parent & Superintendent Wilkinson Meeting >>

July 11, 2006

Parent Reply
I talked to Michelle Anderson about the sign up sheet being in the hallway, I told her my concerns about security. She said they would put the sign up sheet back in the office because she agreed the secretaries in the office were the first line of defense for our children’s safety.

Two days later during the graduation and awards assembly the sign up sheet was back in the hallway. Does this make any sense????!!! There were so many people coming in and out of the school that day, who was monitoring the sign in sheet? No one!

I understand the secretaries in the office are “bothered” by all the people coming and going, but I know they would be more “bothered” if something happened to one of our Children. Thank You DCSpost for this forum.

July 10, 2006

Parent Reply

Listed under the long range plans on our school district website it states district goals as being:

• Secure entry/exit doors in buildings
• Implement entry card system in lieu of current lock system
• School Safety Committees should conduct yearly school safety surveys to students, parents, teachers
  

Obviously the school system with these goals knows there is a need for improvement. What has been done to reach these goals? Where is the accountability?

It also states the members on the committee for school safety. Are these the people we need to contact? Are these the people who should have foreseen these problems? Who is in charge????

Our Reply

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

July 8, 2006

Parent Post

I am a parent at Prairie Vale Elementary, and I have serious concerns about the security in our school. The sign in sheet was out in the hall all year, and anyone could walk in and out of that school without having to present any kind of identification or without even being seen by an actual person. Not to mention the questionable door locking policy. In addition, the pick up situation in the afternoon is abominable. Kids are running all over the place, adult supervisors are paying little if no attention to who is getting into what car and with whom and driving away! It's ridiculous. To test the system, I sent my brother to pick up my kids from school. They just loaded them right up, didn't ask who he was, just put my kids into the car with a person (not on my list of emergency contacts or people approved to pick up my kids). They just said who are you picking up, he pointed to my kids and they put them in the car. This is unbelievable in this day and age, and the fact that it is not more of an issue with other parents shocks me. This is our second elementary school since our kids have started school. In our old school, the car- riding kids were taken out by their own teachers who maintained absolute order and discipline until they were picked up. The teachers knew the faces of all of the parents and asked for id's of anyone else because they had their list of approved people. If the person was not pre approved they were sent home packing' with no kids, period. Every single school employee including secretaries, PE teachers, art teachers, principals, counselors, EVERYONE participated in getting the kids safely on the bus or in the right car with the right person. I am terrified every time I drive through that line that someone is going to be run over or sent away with a stranger. Please tell me I am not the only one.

Our Reply

Does the Deer Creek School District have any policies for security? The way Prairie Vale handles it you would think not. We have talked to others since receiving your post and have found that they share your concerns.

On a side note the sign in sheet was placed in the office for a few days but was then returned to the hall because the traffic was bothering some personnel in the office. Funny how it was never an issue the 4 years our kids went to Prairie Vale and we had to sign in inside the office.

As if putting the sign in sheet in the hall wasn’t bad enough, blinds were installed in the office as well. We wouldn’t want to see who was entering the building now would we? Well that’s ok because if someone didn't want to be seen, they could enter the buildings through any of the back doors which were propped open. When did this all change? The side and back doors were locked when our kids were at Prairie Vale. We know because at one point it was our daughter’s duty to make sure the back outside door remained closed and locked.

We are going to set up a meeting with Superintendent to address these and other issues. If anyone has anything to add please let us know so we can bring them to the meeting with us.