Concerns about school security.

[Anonymous]

My child was sick today and I had to collect said child from school. We have a new secretary, that I've never met, and I expected her to ask me for I.D.. That didn't happen, in fact, she didn't acknowledge me at all. I filled in the early dismissal sheet and said hello to her several times and she didn't even look up. I waited a full two minutes before walking to the nurses office and collecting DC. I thought for sure she'd stop me on my way out but she didn't even glance at us. I literally could have walked in and kidnapped a kid or blown the place up.

I've emailed the principal but this is just inexcusable.

I'm not going to mention the name of the school because I don't want to advertise the easy target.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been in public school for four years and they have never asked me for ID. It freaks me out that they think us just clicking on a name in the sign in computer is enough.

[Anonymous]

Does your kid just walk out with a stranger?? Think random folks picking them up are okay without telling school personnel? If so, then you have problems.

[Anonymous]

Really? Hello Sandy Hook. This is serious. If the principal ignores you, send it to the school board. Even at the high school level we had to sign in blood to get adult (over 18) child out of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does your kid just walk out with a stranger?? Think random folks picking them up are okay without telling school personnel? If so, then you have problems.

It doesn't have to be a stranger. If there was a custody dispute I could have taken the kid and skipped the country.
The majority of kids would probably leave with a stranger if threatened.

[Anonymous]

Please speak directly with the principal about this. They should be able to give you their security procedures in writing. Once this is done, test the system. We are fast coming up the 1 year anniversary for Sandy Hook and everyone should be accountable.

Please report back on the progress.

[Anonymous]

I'm a single mom and a close friend of mine often picks my DD up at school or drops her off. She told me once that she has walked through the school yard and hugged DD's friends who've run up to her, she's walked through the school looking for DD, and not one person has ever batted an eye.

It makes me think adults believe that "bad guys" look like bad guys, with minimal eye contact and trench coats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please speak directly with the principal about this. They should be able to give you their security procedures in writing. Once this is done, test the system. We are fast coming up the 1 year anniversary for Sandy Hook and everyone should be accountable.

Please report back on the progress.

I haven't heard back yet but did send the principal a direct email.

[Anonymous]

Forget email. CALL the principal. It's serious enough to merit a phone call.

And if the principal is nonresponsive, call the superintendent.

I would skip the school board. The school board is very status quo.

but the new superintendent should be very responsive to parent feedback.

[Anonymous]

The principal called an assured me nothing like this would ever happen again. Procedures were not followed and there are going to be consequences for that. The woman in the office is a temp and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't return. One thing I love about the principal is that she doesn't fool around which is why I was so shocked by yesterday's event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The principal called an assured me nothing like this would ever happen again. Procedures were not followed and there are going to be consequences for that. The woman in the office is a temp and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't return. One thing I love about the principal is that she doesn't fool around which is why I was so shocked by yesterday's event.

Good for you for handling this so well. It is SO awful that they would put a temp in that role right at the start of the year with no training (have to wonder how her references were but I'm in HR so that immediately comes to mind)

I bet she was so glad to know this happened.

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update. I had to run into the school to drop something off and everyone was on their game.