Administrators React to Security

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By Nick Lough

Story Published: Apr 29, 2009 at 6:45 PM MST

Story Updated: Apr 29, 2009 at 6:45 PM MST

BILLINGS - Tuesday night a KULR-8 investigation revealed problems with school security at three Billings public schools. Administrators are now reacting to the problems and how to keep their students safe.

Call it a security breach or a lapse in judgment, but we found three Billings schools including an elementary school that failed to stop me us as we walked inside each building and roamed the hallways for several minutes.

"We regard school safety as one of our biggest areas of importance," said School District Two Superintendent Jack Copps. "We need to make sure that our buildings are as safe as we can possibly make them. You have raised a couple of instances that are of concern to me."

Currently all three public high schools have security cameras watching hallways, as well as police officers who work fulltime on each campus and monitors placed at certain exits. All outside doors, except main entrances, are locked at each elementary school, but our investigation proved even with these current procedures in place, students will still let just about anybody inside. "Obviously we failed," said Copps.

However the superintendent says not making the grade doesn't necessarily translate into drastic changes. "We know what we need to do in order to protect students at what we consider the highest level, but that really demands a lot more resources than what we have," said Copps.

In all, 8 of 11 schools passed our test, while there's room for concern; administrators say it's an important reminder to school officials on the need to question anyone walking their hallways.

It's also important to note that most teachers and administrators in the district participate in special training to help them identify all potential intruders and keep their students safe.

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