Local News

RSD Focusing On Security

REDMOND, OR -- Redmond Schools are gearing up for the start of another year and the Superintendent says security is top of mind. Dr. Charan Cline tells KBND News the district looks at security in three pieces, "What we do first to prevent things from happening, how we secure our buildings so we create a better envelope, if you will, a safer area there; and then finally, what do we do for operations? What do we do once things happen?"

For prevention, he says students have access to several mental health tools and staff watch for emotional and behavioral struggles.

Dr. Cline says Redmond is improving building security with a new video surveillance system, "We’re putting in more cameras, we’re upgrading the cameras we have. Our new software system will actually be connected to the Redmond Police Department, so they’ll be able view what’s happening inside of the school from their headquarters." He says a recent voter-approved bond is also paying for upgrades at older schools, "We’re doing a huge remodel over at Obsidian Middle School, kind of moving office spaces and moving how people come into the building. We’re building a security vestibule - somebody described it as an airlock, if you will. You go in, the doors are behind you, you have a locked door in front of you, you talk to the front office about why you need to come into the building and then you’re allowed in."

On the third piece - operational security - Cline says five armed, trained School Resource Officers are available every day, and Redmond Police train on active threat response at least once a year. Also, he says the main entrances of schools have card readers, this year, to allow officers inside in a hurry, because all exits will be locked. "All schools have lots of exterior doors, you know, because we’re big plants. So, if we have a fire, kids have to be able to evacuate effectively. You can’t not have doors, right? You have to give people the opportunity to get out without stampeding each other," says Cline, "But that creates a real security problem, so we have to make sure all those doors stay locked."

 

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