News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Overton County School System hopes to complete security upgrades for six schools by the beginning of the fall semester.
Director of Schools Mark Winningham said the security upgrades will funnel visitors to the main office through a second set of doors. Right now, visitors who enter the building have access to the main hall.
“It’s not really a great deal of work that has to be done,” Winningham said. “Obviously, you have to fixate that to your hallway, floor and ceiling, but I have been told by the architect that there’s not a great deal of work that has to go into that.”
Winningham said the system is awaiting approval from the Fire Marshall for the building plans. Money from the Safe School Act of the Tennessee Department of Education will cover the cost of the security upgrades. If the grant does not fully pay the price, Winningham said general funds account will pay the remaining amount. Winningham said after the plans are approved, the bid process will begin.
The schools being upgraded are A.H. Roberts Elementary, Allons Elementary, Hilham Elementary, Livingston Middle School, Rickman Elementary and Wilson Elementary.
“There are some issues with the layout of the entry way of some schools,” Winningham said. “There are two or three of them that are similar, so those are pretty easy. You have some that have additional storage areas at the entrance so that presents a little bit of an issue.”
Safe Schools Act funds are provided to decrease the likelihood of violent or disruptive behavior and to protect students and staff from harm. The funds are available to all Tennessee public school districts and may be used for one or more of the following purposes: facility security and planning, school safety personnel, violence prevention, training and drills and behavioral health.
