by Olivia Petersen and Branden Ballinger

A security system has been installed that will monitor students’ comings and goings. Over the summer the administration started installing key card scanners for the doors.

High school principal Heather McKay said, “Atlantic High School is not the only school doing this. There are a number of schools in the district that are moving towards this.” The reasoning behind a security system is that students are using doors during the school day they shouldn’t be using.

With the new system, whenever a door is opened an alarm will go off in the office telling them what door is being used. Students will need to be more aware about checking in and out of the office. When students come to school late they will need to be buzzed in.

This system isn’t up and running yet, says McKay, because technology director Roger Warne is preparing the key cards for the faculty; however, parents and students will be informed when the system is activated.

There are also additional cameras which will be installed around the school, but those are in the preliminary stages right now. The crisis plans for tornado and fire drills are also being updated for student safety.

Teacher Terry Shuman said,  “I’m all for doing whatever we need to do for security reasons.” Senior Sara Foster said,” “It’s actually kind of good because I was one of those students that tried to sneak out and I know there were a lot of us, so I guess it’s kind of keeping us in here.”

 The door security systems will be district-wide and it’s not clear when it will take effect.