School Security Gets Renewed Emphasis in Ohio

For LaDonna Calingo, the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre was a call to action.

She knew the front doors of her daughter's elementary school were not locked, and she persuaded South-Western officials to fast-track plans to install a buzzer and an electronic lock system.

Now, she's on a mission to ensure that every school in Ohio has the money to pay for such security measures. If that's not possible, she wants armed guards at the buildings.

"It's the minimum we can do to secure our children," said Calingo, who started an online petition at www.signon.org directed at Gov. John Kasich and lawmakers.

Her campaign coincides with efforts at the state level to bolster school security after a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school in December after killing his mother.

Sen. Frank LaRose, a Republican from Copley, is leading school-safety hearings starting on Tuesday.

The governor's proposed two-year budget includes $12 million in school-security grants. Under the program, districts could be reimbursed up to $2,000 to install radios to call police and firefighters and as much as $5,000 for a security-door system that includes a camera, an intercom and electronic locks.

Rick Savors, the spokesman for the Ohio School Facilities Commission, said the $12 million would allow the commission to cover the estimated 2,000 school buildings that need security upgrades.

He noted that new schools funded by the commission have electronic door locks, buzzer systems and entrances that funnel visitors directly to the main office.

South-Western is working with the commission to build a new high school and 13 elementary schools, which will include those safety features.

A new North Franklin Elementary -- where Calingo's daughter attends -- is scheduled to open in 2016. But that's too long to wait, Calingo said. "For me, one day was too long."

Shortly after the Sandy Hook shootings, she appealed to the superintendent for a security guard and electronic locks. He said a locked door wouldn't stop someone who wants to get in, she recalled, and suggested she organize parents to monitor the door.

"That was not a reasonable response for me," she said.

So Calingo called other districts that had installed locks and buzzer systems and contacted the company that worked on their buildings to find out how much they cost. About $2,000, the company told her.

She shared the information with district leaders, who then contacted the company. They discovered that the electrical wiring in older buildings such as North Franklin could drive up the cost to about $10,000, so they decided to do the work themselves.

Superintendent Bill Wise said the district had already planned to install electronic locks and key-fob entries in some schools after an earlier review of safety plans.

He said North Franklin, which has video cameras at its entrance, was part of the conversation already but Calingo's efforts spurred them into action faster than they had planned.

"We do try to be responsive when people bring this to our attention," he said.

North Franklin should have new electronic locks and a buzzer system this month.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service