'We Have to Be Prepared'

Three concrete ballards in front of the Monroe Elementary School entrance have ornamental trees planted in each, but it's not just there for the aesthetics. The ballards are spaced in such a way that no drivers attempting to ram their way into the entrance can fit a vehicle between them.

News reports of school shootings have become more commonplace, but the tragedy in Sandy Hook last December really hit close to home. Monroe joins many other districts in amping up security in its school buildings.


Sallyports, security cameras and buzz-in systems are among the improvements being made to all town schools. On Monday evening, Town Council members toured Monroe Elementary School. 

Supt. of Schools James Agostine showed them the new sallyport and sensor locks in a system in which authorized personnel use badges to gain entry.

"The comments we're getting from the public is that it enhances the foyer," Agostine said of the sallyport.

Agostine led the tour with Principal Debra Kovachi. Town Council Chairwoman Enid Lipeles and fellow council members Debra Dutches, Frank Lieto, Tony Unger, J.P. Sredzinski and Ray Knapp participated.

Changing Behaviors

Visitors without badges are admitted into the school via a buzz in system.

Unger asked about times when people are buzzed in and a person walking behind them follows them inside.

"We have to train parents," Agostine said. "When someone is behind you to turn around and say, 'Please wait for me to buzz in' or 'We can buzz in together.'"

Agostine said another potential problem can be when parents or children inside the school see others at the door and open it for them before they can be buzzed in.

"Our Safety Committee's number one priority is to change these behaviors," Agostine said.

Kovachi said, "Even parents I know, I have to ask them to buzz in, because the secretaries have to know who's in the building."

Seeing Who Comes & Goes

Aside from the cameras police dispatchers watch, the entrance is more visible to the naked eye. The main office is to the right of the entrance and windows provide views of the doors outside and into the hallway.

The main office is also equipped with panic buttons to contact police in the event of an emergency.

Sredzinski, who works in an emergency communications center, asked if the panic buttons have been tested. Agostine said testing has been done with police and the system works.

Sredzinski also suggested having a system that records sound like alarm companies have so police can hear what's going on inside the building in an emergency.

Some classrooms have been relocated to accommodate the security upgrades and Agostine said, "There's so much work that is unseen, all the electrical work."

Inside the school, the superintendent said Monroe Elementary benefited from double key locks from Honeywell project funding.

Asked about lockdown drills, Kovachi said, "Sadly, kids are used to the lockdown drills. We do it with fire drills."

"In the past, we would never do it with cafeteria waves," Agostine said of the drills. "But now we do, because we have to be prepared."