FAIRMONT — Thanks to two grants from the state School Building Authority, Marion County schools are receiving some security upgrades.
In his State of the State address two years ago, Gov. Joe Manchin promised legislative dollars to improve security at West Virginia’s schools.
Since then, the SBA has doled out money to each county for increased security measures, such as limiting access to one door and adding security cameras, said Superintendent of Schools James Phares.
“There’s an emphasis on security across the nation,” Phares said. “Most of the harm that comes to schools is through intruders, so we’re limiting access to the schools.”
Marion County has received more than $600,000 in the last two years for upgrades to security features, he said.
With some of the grant funding, video cameras will be installed at all three high schools. Installation of the cameras and surveillance equipment began this week at East Fairmont High. That video surveillance will help school officials see different parts of each school campus, and they will have a record of what occurs.
“There will be a record when folks do things they shouldn’t do during school hours or after school hours,” Phares said.
Fairmont Senior High School principal Chad Norman said his school has had a video surveillance system for a few years now. That system came in handy a few weeks ago when vandals entered the building and damaged school property.
“I know the cameras will help police the school and make for a safe learning environment,” he said.
The video system isn’t just internal; the cameras will be connected to a live feed on the Internet. Only school and county administration and local fire and police departments will have access to the secure Web site, Phares said.
The general public will not be able to view images from the cameras, he said.
In the event there is a situation at one of the schools, Phares, law enforcement and fire personnel will be able to see exactly what’s going on and know how to best respond, he said.
Each elementary school in the county will receive a state-of-the-art entry system, just like the one at West Fairmont Middle School.
The building’s doors will be equipped with magnetic locks, which can be released by the school’s administration. Entry to each building will be limited to one door. That door will be equipped with a buzzer and a security camera. Any visitor to any building will have to push the button, identify themselves to the office staff, who will have to disengage the locks to allow the visitor to enter the building.
E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
PHOTO BY DANNY SNYDER
Boosting school security
Upgrades under way in county
- Local News
-
-
Teaching on their level
“I would like to nominate Lois Thibodeau for ‘My Favorite Teacher.’ She is the special needs Pre-K teacher at Watson Elementary School.” This was Kristi Wolford singing the praises of Lois Thibodeau.
-
DHHR requiring additional vaccines for students
Seventh- and 12th-graders who return to class in the fall without certain immunizations will not be allowed to attend school unless they get the required inoculations.
-
Cost of crime
Victim.
You never thought this would be you.
But you are the victim of a nonviolent or violent crime.
After contacting the proper authorities, you may be bewildered as to what happens next. -
More streets to be paved this week
Even more city streets will be paved this week than expected.
City Manager Jay Rogers said the spring paving required fewer tons of asphalt to cover the distance than originally estimated. That means there’s asphalt to spare and more streets are getting paved this spring. -
Bertoletti has 33 pepperoni rolls in only 10 minutes to win
If there’s one Memorial Day tradition that everybody participates in, one way or another, it’s eating.
Maybe it’s at a picnic at one of the many venues scattered across Marion County, enjoying hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni salad and other seasonal food. -
Assaults, physical or not, affect ‘sense of safety and trust’
An assault of any kind — whether it’s physical or not — can be traumatizing.
“You don’t need to have suffered any cuts or scratches,” said Dr. Ronald Pearse, “but any kind of assault affects your sense of safety and trust.” -
Reasoning Mind excites students
As a teacher, Beverly Stewart has never been more thrilled than when she sees the benefits a newer program has done for her students.
Pleasant Valley Elementary fifth-grade student Calista Muzzapelle worked diligently on her assignments last week, much like she had during her Christmas break. -
Pepperoni roll prize
To someone from out of state, the pepperoni roll might seem like a mystery.
“Is it like a calzone?” they might ask, “or a stromboli?”
Unique to the state of West Virginia, the pepperoni roll represents the Italian heritage of many of the miners in the early 20th century mixed with hardworking Mountaineer common sense. -
BOE seeks land for new middle schools
The Marion County Board of Education is looking at land to build new middle schools in Mannington and Monongah.
If all goes as planned, county voters will see a bond on the November ballot. -
Former WVU coach takes final journey home
Bill Stewart has made his way back home.
The former West Virginia University football coach, who died suddenly earlier this week of a heart attack at 59, was laid to rest Friday in his hometown of New Martinsville. - More Local News Headlines
-
