Wonder If This Could Happen Here In Fairfax

[Henry]

At U-32 in East Montpelier two adults allegedly barged into the school, bypassed the front office, and entered a classroom, where they verbally and physically assaulted 16-year-old Alysha Wood.

I personally am not that familiar with the school down here, but know whenever I have gone in to see Scott Lang, I usually push the buzzer and somebody on the other end usually knows me and asks me who I would like to see.

I watched the segment on TV and also read the article on the link below.  It sure is kind of scary, but I would suspect with the setup we have here at BFA, if somebody pushed the buzzer, the person who would let them in would probably sense something was up with the individual and have somebody meet them at the door rather than let them in.

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=10112274

[logical]

That's true that BFA has a locked front door and you need entrance by person at front desk.  However, there are ways into the building.  If somebody is coming out of one of the other doors people can get in.  I've done it myself when picking up my children.

[Loctavious]

I believe there's actually a camera in that black box at the door too - so they'd see WHO was coming in at least.  But, even if it was just audio, if they were visibly agitated, they'd probably be verbally agitated as well.

True - as the principal from U-32 said - School's can't be 100% fool proof for the very reason logical stated.  That use to be a problem where i work.  NO ONE is suppose to gain access unless they're an employee with an access key an badge, OR are buzzed in after stating their name and business within view of the an employee.  The issue of visitors coming in right behind employees was addressed by an educational campaign about why this security is needed and how EVERYONE part of the system it's meant o protect is responsible for upholding the rules. 
      This would be harder to implement with youth as grasping the consequences isn't always easy for them.  It would be a big step though to .....REMIND students to NOT allow anyone in behind them - to be mindful of your surroundings and report things out of place.  it seems when we become lax/ let our guard down or assume we're all safe, something happens to remind us not to be.

       Now logical, I'd say you're part of the inability to 100% foolproof the system, BUT..... some could say the same for me.  I'm 'let-in' sometimes by youth, and that could seem like a breach of that basic responsibility we'd hope our youth would have.  But then, I'm a contracted coach, active in the community and know by a lot of kids.  Still, if it meant others would abide and we'd have 100% protection ..... I'd go by the book everytime.

      I'm shocked that someone didn't immediately do something.  i know self-preservation is a huge, primal force within us, But as an Adult - a teacher shoud've at least verbally begun to demand order and possible recite what laws the parents had just broken - something to wake the parents up from the their obviously fury-blinded, perhaps misinformed rage.

[Scott Lang]

Hi Everyone,
  I heard that this discussion was taking place and would like at least to fill you in on BFA's protocols so you have accurate information.  First, it is possible for something like this to happen anywhere.  Schools and others can minimize the opportunities and should.  The security system at BFA gives us an edge.  Our conversations with kids and staff focus on  two things.  One is that any one of us or them can disable the entire system simply by letting someone in.  We spend alot of time talking to kids about that and there are some, who are no longer allowed to be in the building after school because they could not change their behavior regarding letting people in.  The other thing we talk about is that it is more likely going to be a parent who is angry or intoxicated or a noncustodial parent that we want to deal with OUTSIDE of the building than any shooter or random perpetrator.  Both remote entrances to the middle high school are monitored by camera.  When folks are buzzed in, they identify themselves to an administrative assistant and they tell us where they are going, or we direct them to the office.  Between the several cameras we can see immediately if they head in a different direction than they said or which we had asked them to go.  We also have a response team which will intervene when something is amiss.  We communicate with the same equipment that police and fire personnel use and response is just seconds away.  Finally, part of our protocol is that classroom doors are supposed to remain locked when students are in the room.  We actually did have outsiders assault a student some years back, before the system.  We also often dealt with people coming into the building who did not have a good purpose here.  Since the implementation of our security system, those situations have virtually been eliminated.  We still depend on common sense, communication and prevention. 

[Loctavious]

       Thanks Scott.  It's good to know how the system works exactly, from folks officially in the 'know'.  It's also good to know that the responsibility of the individual is stressed as well.