Superintendent speaks to security concerns of new high school site

(Ed. note: This story is appearing on our Web site prior to print publication due to the incoming storm.)

In the wake of several school shootings in recent years, some in the county have raised concerns about a new high school being built at the Greenwood Hollow Road campus.

According to Superintendent Wayne Carr, School Board President Rusty Windle and Police Chief Earl Hyatt, having the new school at that campus is a plus for security considerations.

These concerns were address in recent interviews and meetings with Carr and Windle.

Are you concerned about mixing high school and middle school or even elementary school students?

Carr: There is mixing now. We have at least 60 kids a day from the middle school going to the high school. The whole eighth grade starts school at the high school, and some seventh graders go there for basketball.

Windle: Some junior high kids are taking high school classes.

Carr: In the school I came from, we shared facilities and teachers. I don't have any problems with it. We have some seventh and eighth graders who go to the elementary school to work with the elemenary teachers and students. In the last year or two we had some seniors who went to those schools to work internships with elemenary kids. I don't see any negatives.

As far as drugs, I don't see it as a concern. We'll still have separate buildings.

Windle: They won't be wandering around on other campuses. They won't be there unless they have permission.

Carr: We'll still have our standard monitoring of students.

Why do you say there will be more security and safety at a high school near the middle school?

Carr: The current high school is almost impossible to secure. In December I had a specialist come in from the University of Arkansas on security and safety. He is preparing a written report as a result of his visit.

There are 27 entrances to the current high school and public roads all around. Police Chief Earl Hyatt would prefer to have the school where it's not right on the main road.

Has there been a problem with outsiders coming onto campus at the high school?

Windle: It has not been a problem so far, but we have to look at a worst-case scenario.

Carr: There have been surveys done asking parents what is their first concern. Safety is their number one priority. The second is academics. Nothing's happened, but the potential is always there.

What if there is a Columbine-like crisis at the high school? Are you concerned that the middle and elementary schools are in close proximity?

Carr: We've had crisis and security lockdown drills twice a year for the last three years. The report will show several scenarios. If someone is inside or in the playground, we'll address all those issues with the specialist. Our new building will be much easier to secure.