WINFIELD, W.Va. -- A countywide school fencing project aims to improve security and safety for Putnam County students.
During a Monday night meeting, the Putnam school board approved a $417,954 contract with Alco Fencing for installation of property fencing at 16 of the county's 22 schools.
Tom Tull, Putnam County Schools' director of middle childhood education and special projects, says this effort is all part of the statewide safe schools initiative and is directed at helping the county tighten security in order to protect students and staff. The fences will serve primarily as an enclosure to playgrounds and areas that students might be present in during the day, with a focus on mostly the sides and rear of school properties.
Tull said the state School Building Authority received roughly $8 million in legislative funds this year, which were then appropriated among school districts throughout the state for security projects. Each district had the responsibility of a 15 percent match in order to receive the funds. Another distribution of funds is expected this coming legislative year.
"We're just trying to take a proactive stance on keeping kids safe," Tull said, with this being just one of several changes expected for the new school year in Putnam County.
In addition to the fencing project, work to install security doors at all schools has been underway throughout the summer. After students enter the building each morning for classes, the doors are locked. Guests will be buzzed-in by an administrator. All other school doors will only be able to be opened from inside the building.
Video surveillance will soon be installed at all schools, and school staff will be required to wear identification badges.
With violent crimes on the rise nationwide, Tull said West Virginia schools are finally seeing a need for the major security expenditures. The funding will allow the purchase of technology to aid the people who have been working all along to keep the schools secure.
"The principals have been key players and have been very involved in keeping the schools safe," Tull said. "We've really been working together to create the kind of safe environment that we know every parent wants for their child."
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