In Patrick O’Donnell’s article last week on the vulnerability of
Hollister schools, parent Vickie Lake and Ladd Lane Elementary
principal Maxine Carlson express differing views on how safe the
school is from menacing intrusion.
In Patrick O’Donnell’s article this week on the vulnerability of Hollister schools, parent Vickie Lake and Ladd Lane Elementary principal Maxine Carlson express differing views on how safe the school is from menacing intrusion.
Lake, a former teacher, is concerned perimeter gates are left open, leaving kids vulnerable to outside intrusion. Carlson insists her school is safe. We believe Carlson and her entire staff are extremely conscientious about ensuring every visitor that wants to come on campus must first check in with the front office and receive a visitors pass.
Unfortunately that’s not the same as being safe.
Since Columbine, school shootings have become far too commonplace, illustrating that this is an entirely new era from the time when California elementary schools were designed. They were never planned with security in mind, rather for the open space the sunny days of West Coast weather enables children to enjoy.
That open space, coupled with open gates, is an invitation to disaster.
But the task of retooling schools with security in mind is beyond the scope of local school funding. It will require the financial resources of the state and a reallocation of funding to provide on-site police protection, locked fencing, metal detectors and other security measures.
Overkill? We’d rather not roll the dice.
