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OCTOBER 17, 2022

VOTE

Tuesday

October 18, 2022

6 a.m. – 9 p.m.


Increase Miller Elementary School

Katonah Elementary School

Meadow Pond Elementary School

security greeter at MPES

Highlighting Security  

On October 18, residents of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District will vote on a $49.5 million capital projects referendum to address teaching and learning environments, sustainability and security in our school buildings. The District projects that New York State aid will reimburse about 31% of the project (approximately $17.1 million).

 

This is the final in our three-part series of emails highlighting various aspects of the proposal. Today, we focus on the security measures included in the proposition and spoke to Steven Siciliano, principal of John Jay High School and Russ Davidson, lead architect on the project who has testified before the Federal Commission on School Safety.

Q. What are the security features included in the proposition?

RD: While all the schools have security measures in place, they utilize existing structures and doors that were not specifically designed to enhance security. To further enhance safety, each school will receive a new secure vestibule at the front entrance. Secure vestibules are often cited by security and design professionals as one of the most effective steps towards making the school environment safer.

 

The vestibules will separate the area where visitors’ credentials are reviewed from student and staff occupied spaces and will be placed so that security personnel can view visitors as they approach the building, providing additional security. Equipped with electromagnetic locks the vestibules will enable separation and lock down in the event of an unwanted visitor.

 

SS: The proposal for the entrance vestibules adds another layer of security in addition to our full-time security greeter and School Resource Officer.

 

Note: If the proposal moves forward, these security vestibules will be added at the front entrance of each of our five schools.

John Jay High School

Q. How will the proposed corridor at the high school heighten security?

SS: Aside from a dedicated security vestibule, the proposal adds a corridor along the front of the high school main building. In a building that has many doors to the outside, we believe this new corridor will more effectively define the school’s main entrance and help us to maintain that single point of entry.

The new hallway will also reduce crowding while giving students another method of egress to the gymnasium, fitness center, and cafeteria without having to go outside. Currently, between classes, the main office and guidance suite, which are not built for hallway traffic, become a hallway by default. It can be challenging, for example, to hold critical and sometimes confidential or sensitive meetings while contending with a rush of high school students passing through. So, we expect the capital improvements to help us function much more effectively.

To see the previous capital project e-newsletters on Teaching & Learning and Sustainability, click here.

The Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District is a nationally recognized high performing school district serving approximately 2,900 students from the Towns of Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem and Pound Ridge. In the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, we strive to create learning experiences that are engaging, relevant, and take place in an active learning environment.

Katonah-Lewisboro School District

klschools.org

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