Dist. 63 schools plan to beef up security

East Maine Elementary District 63 likely will be beefing up security at four district elementary schools this summer.

During a recent special meeting, the school board authorized staff to explore building additions at the entrance of each school that would provide a contained area for monitoring visitors and limit access to the buildings.

Officials are considering additions at Melzer School in Morton Grove, Nelson and Mark Twain schools in Niles, and Washington School in Glenview, all built between 1958 and 1964.

"These four schools were built long ago and security didn't seem to be at the forefront of one's thinking," District 63 Superintendent Kathleen Williams said.

Right now, cameras monitor the schools' entrances and there are locks on the doors. Once buzzed in, visitors are required to report to the school office to submit a driver's license or state ID for clearance. But they don't always go directly and could be roaming the hallways.

The district already upgraded Apollo and Stevenson schools in Des Plaines in-house. But the other four buildings need more extensive work because school offices, currently on the second floor, would have to be relocated to the ground floor.

"In order to do this in the most efficient manner we would want all our offices on the first level," said Daniel Barrie, supervisor of operations and maintenance. "The purpose of these additions is to ensure that all visitors can only access the office upon entry."

Once the additions are built, they would serve as each school's administration center, housing all staff offices.

The freed-up space on the second floors could then be converted to fit other educational needs, Barrie said.

Barrie said the decision to upgrade security was not prompted by any incidents or imminent threats. Rather, a 2007 security audit recommended changing the design flaw in the schools and improving visitor control.

"This was our own initiative too," Barrie said. "We are being forward-thinking. Basically, it is bringing all the buildings up to the same standard."

Early cost estimates for the upgrades range from $2 million to $3 million. The school board won't see the final price tag for a couple of months and still must give final approval to the project.