A gaping hole in school security or am I being an over reactive parent?

[Glock Shooter]

I really would like some opinions on this because I truly feel at this moment, a few hours after the incident, I'm way too emotional.

At approximately 9:40am this morning I received a phone call from my daughter's kindergarten teacher. She opened with "Your daughter is ok but I need to tell you about an incident that just happened."

This is the story she tells me: While she was in music class she asked to go to the bathroom. If she were in her regular kindergarten class there would've been a bathroom in the class, however, being music class, the bathroom was down the hall. The music teacher noticed that she was gone for a while and went to investigate. She found my daughter talking to a strange man in the hallway whom the music teacher could not identify. She quickly took my daughter back inside the class, called the office and they did what they called a "sweep" of the building not finding anyone who met the description of the stranger. Then they spoke to my daughter, and then they called me. At no time did they CALL THE POLICE to report a potential predator on school grounds, who knows how much time has passed and the chance to set up a perimeter is gone. While the teacher was on the phone with me I asked what the police had to say and when she said that they did not inform the police but that she sent an email to the principal I interrupted her, told her that this was unacceptable and that I needed to hang up and call the police, she told me that was my option but that they were not going to involve them.

I called 911 and Boulder Police were dispatched. They did a search of the area and the grounds not finding anyone who met the description of the stranger. I then received a call back from the school, the school made me feel that my daughter was partially at fault for talking to a stranger. I nearly lost it, I said she was at school, and she's supposed to be safe at school. Then they went on to tell me how they followed District Procedure. That's when I began to hit my boiling point and started requesting phone numbers of the highest administrators in the district and the person allegedly responsible for security protocols. When the Officer told me about how many people are actually granted access to the school I got sick to my stomach. I even think the school lied to the officer because they told him all visitors must sign in and that's it. But I know for a fact that in addition to signing in you must wear a VISITOR badge. He said they made absolutely no mention of any visitor badges.

I'm first and foremost so thankful to all powers that be that my little girl is safe and unharmed.....but what about the next time? Who's daughter might it be? How can the district and the school sit still now knowing they have a huge hole in their system?

I'm going to let my emotions calm before I make any phone calls or take any action as part of me just wants to call Channel 7 and turn them loose on them.

ok....I think I'm done for now. I would like your opinions, parents, non-parents, and especially the honorable men and women of Law Enforcement.

[ronaldrwl]

I would like to think I can say hello to a child and not have the SWAT called. What does your daughter say happened?

[refryguy]

ronald, unless you are supposed to be there then no SWAT is necessary. If you are not, have no visitor badge, did not sign in, and have no business being at the school then yes, police involvement should be expected.


Glock Shooter, you did exactly what you should have, calling the police. What happened in that school is COMPLETELY unacceptable and you have every right to over react when it comes to the safety of your child. I for one would do what I had to do in order to get the Principle fired for not involving the police. Completely irresponsible of them, especially if the teacher witnessed this person in the halls and they weren't supposed to be there.

Let me know if I can be of any help, as a father of four daughters I would have been down at that school in an instant and the school board would definitely be getting involved.

[refryguy]

BTW, you should call Channel 7 and get the media involved. That school should pay for reacting so poorly. What school was it?

[Irving]

Did it ever cross your mind that it might have been another kid's parent or something?

I kind of laughed when I read the title of your thread because there is no such thing as "School Security." Anyone can walk in to any school. Sure, you're not supposed to be able to, but you can. Glad your daughter is okay.

[trlcavscout]

I have a son in second grade this year and a daughter that will be starting soon. I have been to the schools several times over the years picking kids up, dropping off etc. School security is a joke! The sign in and visitor badge is an honor system at the front door with no one watching, everydoor on the building is unlocked so anyone can just walk in. The playground is laid out very poorly for child protection, the teacher on recess cant see half of it. Before and after school they have several teachers outside but the rest of the day is pretty scary. During after school functions they have the doors propped open with no one watching. Pretty scary stuff if you just go watch for a little while and see all the gaps.

Glad your daughter is ok!!! Blameing a kindergarten student for talking to an adult in the school is completely out of line!!! She might have thought he was a teacher or admin, he might have introduced himself as such?

[refryguy]

I have three in an elementary school in Cherry Creek Schools and every door is locked, including the front. Anyone visiting the school must ring a bell and be admitted by someone in the office. The doors can be opened from the inside, but its still safer than just allowing anyone entrance to the school. And everytime something like this has happened, police are involved and the school sends a notice to all the parents and the school district calls with an automated message to parents of the school and surrounding schools.

I am soooo steamed right now for what happened. Sorry if I'm ranting.

[Irving]

I remember a lot of guest speakers a lot as well. Reading the post, the thing that I am most surprised about is that it doesn't sound like the teacher made any attempt at asking the guy who he was. Perhaps she thought it the better plan to get back to the rest of the students and call the front office from her class room. Still wouldn't have been a big deal to ask who the hell he was.

[trlcavscout]

The doors should be locked from the outside, that is good. At my sons school the office cant even see the front door. And unlike the high schools the only time a cop is on school grounds is when they do a special event.

[BigBear]

As a liscensed teacher... school security is lacking in all aspects.

When I was in elementary school, I was in Germany. The DoD school there had complete lockdown. Even the teachers had to be "buzzed" back into the building by the school security officer on a CCTV if they stepped outside for a smoke, lunch, etc. There were canine units and armed/uniform personell in the hallways and around the grounds. In class, you were not allowed (period) to use the restroom. You had to wait until the inbetween time for classes.

When we came back to the States... things were a lot different. Doors were open, no audio/video, teachers let kids leave anywhere, etc. To me, it seems like the teachers are overwhelmed with all the paperwork/administrative duties that they have to do (along with raising the kids as the majority of parents take no active role, and state mandated testing for funding) that teachers just "collect a paycheck". A lot of teachers rarely last past ten years because of the demands. They don't want to call the cops for anything because then they will have to tell the head office (not prinicipal but super) that the cops were called, they'll get a blackmark, and their ratings will go down which means less money, blahblahblah....

If you ahve any specific questions about teh school systems, etc, I'd love to answer them