Local

Owasso, Tulsa Public Schools look for extra security measures in schools

OWASSO, Okla. — After several recent mass shooting tragedies, a lot of local entities, including school districts and law enforcement, are looking to increase security.

At Owasso Public Schools, Director for Safety and Security Paul Croft they’re always looking for ways to improve security. He said front doors are open, but the lobby is secured and have to be buzzed in before entering school hallways.

He said even though the district is always looking to improve security, the mass shootings In Uvalde, Texas and at St. Francis gave a bigger push.

Owasso just passed a bond for the district, which includes plans to fund more security.

“Access control cameras and updating our intercoms and fire panels for our school, so that are some of the things that will help us with our security,” he said.

FOX23′s radio partner KRMG spoke with Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Deborah Gist on its current safety protocols.

“We do have secured buildings and improved control of the building including a double entry system at most sites, improved security cameras, we have control center which those are monitored 24/7, and we also have secured our buildings with improved fencing doors and alarm systems,” Gist said.

Gist said the district has school resource officers and security companies working together.

“Every campus has someone, a safety officer who is assigned to that school, our secondary schools have by design a safety officer and other schools have more of that rotation for relationships of security teams,” she said.

Major John Bryant with Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office said they’re also increasing security. Thursday afternoon, TCSO and school districts were invited to an informational meeting about Riot Glass, and how it can withhold active shooter situations. He said TCSO’s lobby is frequently center for some alarming events.

“It’s just glass. It’s regular glass and we’ve had a number of instances where people have been upset at law enforcement or upset with the jail or just wanted to be arrested. They’ve smashed our glass. We’ve had protesters who have protested other instances and then show up at the jail and want to protest at the jail and bang on the glass,” Bryant said.

Bryant adds, the need to tighten security is a necessity for many.

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