Putnam Schools Improving Security At Two Schools

The Putnam County School System is improving building security with new vestibules at two schools.

Deputy Director of Schools Tim Martin said $153,000 of Safe Schools Grant funding will improve entrances at Avery Trace and Algood Middle Schools. Martin said a new school would typically have secure vestibules, where people can be seen before being buzzed in.

“Right now, most of our older buildings we have what’s called a secure door, the front door,” Martin said. “But you’re standing outside and waiting outside until you can be buzzed in. Most of the time our people really can’t see you until after they buzz you in.”

Martin said the goal is to have these projects complete by the start of the new school year. He said that pending the construction company’s recommendation, construction could begin before summer vacation.

“The one that we’re doing at Algood Middle School is fairly simple, just because of the way the building is already designed,” Martin said. “The one that we’re doing at Avery Trace is a little bit more complicated. We’re actually going to have to build a little bit more of an office area in the front of that building. So that one is a little bit more complicated.”

Martin said that Putnam County Schools have a safety committee made up of principals and SRO’s. He said this committee prioritizes safety needs and projects to address them.