Enhanced School Security Coming to Council Rock

Council Rock is moving forward to implement enhanced security upgrades at district schools, including a card access system and secure office vestibules.

The school board on Thursday approved hiring D’Huy Engineering to complete a project scope and budget preparation for a district-wide card access system and other security enhancement projects. The district will pay D’Huy $16,800 to establish the work scope, prepare concept floor plans and calculate budgets for the enhancements. 

From there, the district will use that information to bid out the work.  

Because of the urgency of this work (the district wants it completed by the start of the next school year), “we have to try to make this as bidder friendly as possible,” Council Rock Supervisor of Operational Services Doug Taylor said. 

Taylor told the board that in addition to the card readers to gain access to school buildings, the district will add remote release door hardware that would lock down the door between school offices and interior hallways.

Last month, Superintendent Mark Klein presented a series of security improvements recommended for Council Rock schools.

The recommendations include improved visitor controls, facility improvements, training, intervention and increased staffing. The administration based their recommendations on suggestions from the community through three public forums on school security that were held in response to the school shooting in Newtown, Conn.