Last spring Superintendent Mike Seay sent letters to the parents of students at Norfork Schools in light of a school shooting out of state and threats to many schools across Arkansas. He used the opportunity to inform them of about 20 steps being taken to ensure the safety of their children.
The letter followed a series of safety meetings involving school administration, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, members of the school’s board of education, teachers and community members.
Now, with the beginning of the school year just days away, Seay says with the certification and license to carry a weapon of six employees, including two teachers, the last piece of the enhanced security plan has been completed. It was a step taken after receiving survey results from school patrons.
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While six employees have just completed a 60-hour course leading to being commissioned school security officers with weapons qualifications, the number will soon grow to eight. Seay says only Norfork’s two school resource officers will be utilizing open carry procedures. The remaining security officers will have concealed weapons and bulletproof vests. In the case of the two teachers, their weapons and vests will be inside their classrooms under lockdown in a safe.
Unless there is an emergency situation such as a fire or active shooter, students and visitors will not see a change in the appearance of these new security officers.
However, Seay says there are a number of new safety features that will be readily visible when visitors attempt to enter any of the school facilities.
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The safety enhancements include two-way radios throughout the campus, including classrooms, deadbolt locking mechanisms on all interior doors and mirrored glass at all entrances, allowing school personnel to see the exterior and precluding visitors from being able to see inside. A second school resource officer was added late last spring for the elementary school.
Still to come is professional development for the entire staff in the week before school begins regarding active shooter incidents.
Seay says school officials, with the community support, determined it was vital the enhanced safety measures be taken with Norfork Schools 12 to 13 miles from the nearest fully staffed law enforcement agency.
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He says the safety team will continue to tweak the school’s security plan and gather input from the community.
Seay says the steps taken over the summer have resulted in a huge change in the way business has historically been conducted at Norfork Schools.
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