A recent tragic event in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., and other security incidents at schools have reignited discussions nationwide regarding school safety measures, particularly focused on controlled access and entry procedures.
In an interview with CBC News, school authorities and safety specialists discussed the challenges of regulating entry points, the reasons why some schools choose to leave doors unlocked, and the varying approaches to access control in different communities.
While specific entry protocols at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School remain undisclosed, Alan Campbell, the president of the Canadian School Boards Association, highlighted that in many areas, it is a standard practice to secure school entrances. However, not all schools automatically lock their doors after classes commence, citing the absence of entrance surveillance systems as a contributing factor.
Campbell emphasized the diversity in community attitudes towards door-locking policies in schools, noting that preferences vary across regions, whether urban or rural. For instance, in Campbell’s rural community, schools have been locked with a buzzer system for access for about a decade. However, this practice is not universal across Manitoba or the rest of the country.
In British Columbia schools, it is customary for most doors to be locked, with visitors required to enter through the front entrance and sign in for identification purposes, as stated by Trish Smillie, superintendent of School District 8 Kootenay Lake.
Regarding the practice of keeping doors open, Donna Gingera, the founder of the Hour-Zero School Safety Program, pointed out the challenges schools face in retrofitting for controlled entry, particularly due to cost constraints and other infrastructure priorities such as seismic upgrades and HVAC modernization.
The importance of maintaining an open-door policy in schools for community engagement was highlighted by Smillie, who emphasized the balance between safety measures and maintaining a welcoming environment for families and community members.
Looking ahead, Balan Moorthy, superintendent of B.C.’s Fraser-Cascade School District 78, predicted an increased focus on safety reviews and training following recent incidents, drawing parallels to the aftermath of past tragedies like the Columbine High School massacre.
Jeff Maharaj, president of the Ontario Principals Council, stressed the need for continuous collaboration among school stakeholders to enhance safety measures, suggesting practical steps like installing entrance cameras, ensuring proper maintenance of buildings, and encouraging community involvement in school safety initiatives.