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DVUSD schools aim for more security measures

Posted
By Richard Smith


By Cecilia Chan
Independent Newsmedia


Higher front counters, bullet-resistant materials at windows and desk areas and dedicated monitors are some of the security measures planned this summer for schools in Deer Valley Unified School District.


The Governing Board last week reviewed the district’s phase 2 implementation of front office security estimated to cost $800,000. The board is expected to give the go-ahead at its May 9 meeting to begin the work.







“It’s likely phase 2 of many phases,” said Deputy Superintendent Jim Migliorino. “I am sometimes asked how many phases there will be in our security and my stock answer is, ‘as many as it takes.’ There is no target.”


Mr. Migliorino said the money to fund the project would come from a 2013 bond, which includes more than $14 million for safety measures such as for playground and the communication system.





“I will tell you the budget might be difficult to reach,” Mr. Migliorino said. “It’s going to be a challenge for us not only to get to the budget number but to get it completed.”



Arrowhead Elementary School is one of four Deer Valley Unified School District campuses that will not see phase 2 security upgrades this summer. Those will come at Arrowhead when the campus undergoes modernization improvements.

Board member Jenny Frank asked if it was a good possibility the district would go over the $800,000 budgeted for the work.


Mr. Migliorino said the contract’s guarantee maximum price is in excess of $1 million but he thinks the district could get the number down, adding officials are seeing price escalations in all construction endeavors.


He said officials may need to re-prioritize other safety projects but that the contract has built-in contingencies.


Also, he said the installation of ballistic material on furniture would be done by in-house staff, which would help save money.


Mr. Migliorino said the work would be done simultaneously on the campuses. Work is scheduled to begin May 30 and be completed by Aug. 1.


The district completed phase 1 last summer at the main entry of all its campuses, which included the installation of buzz







doors in the front offices, which separated the public lobby from a school and electronically allowed people in and out. Ballistic material also was put in as well as a camera system that is now at all the schools. Prior, cameras were only on middle and high school campuses, Mr. Migliorino said.


He went on to explain increasing the front counters to 42 inches high is to minimize the ability to easily jump over them.


Film also would be placed on the office windows.


“We can see someone coming but they can’t see what we do inside,” he said.


Coupled with a monitor hooked to a camera showing the outside entrance to the campus, employees would be able to see if someone is acting suspicious and immediately lock the door to prevent entry into the lobby, headded.


All the security measures were recommendations from a liaison from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, according to Mr. Migliorino.


Four campus sites, including Arrowhead Elementary School in Glendale, are not included in phase 2 because they will receive the upgrades when they undergo modernization improvements.