New cameras at HMS, security changes to all

Havre Middle School has been equipped with cameras at the front entrance of the building to better keep track of who is attempting to enter the school after the school day has begun.

“It’s honestly something we’ve been looking at for some time,” said Havre Public Schools Superintendent Andy Carlson.

The middle school has had cameras for years — since he started working for the school district, Carlson said. The new cameras are simply adding to the already-exceptional security system at the school.

The middle school will be catching up with Highland Park, Lincoln-McKinley and Sunnyside schools, which all already have the cameras.

“At this point, there are no plans to put them in the high school,” Carlson said.

“The folks in the school have done an outstanding job of welcoming people,” Carlson said.

Once the school day starts for students, the buildings of the middle school and elementary schools are secured, Carlson said. Cameras are used to see who is using the front entrance buzzer to request entrance to the buildings.

In a letter sent to parents and guardians of K-8 students, Carlson wrote that the Jan. 21 decision to start locking the doors to the facilities during the school day came about after a districtwide safety plan.

“Locking entrances during instructional time is not a decision that has been entered into without careful thought and consideration … ,” Carlson wrote. “This action is in no way intended to create a barrier between you and the relationship that we greatly value in regard to this educational partnership.”

If a child needs to be picked up from one of the schools during instructional time, the parent or guardian must press the call button at the entrance to be allowed access by the front desk. After being allowed to enter, the person must report to the main office.

“There are other (Montana) school districts who have already moved forward on this,” Carlson said. “It’s definitely time to move it in a direction like this.”

Carlson said if people have concerns or questions, he would be more than happy to answer them and explain the district’s thought process with the security system setup.

“What we’re looking to do is, during the instructional part of the day, have a sense of who’s coming and who’s going … ” Carlson said. “We just want to provide the safest environment for our staff and students.”

Building lock times

Havre Middle School:

8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunnyside Intermediate School:

8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Lincoln-McKinley Primary:

9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Highland Park Early Primary:

8:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.