Glen Rock Schools Update Visitor Policy, Citing Safety

New security protocols will be in place in Glen Rock schools at the start of the school year Sept. 9 as part of an “ongoing effort” to improve safety in the buildings, the district announced Thursday.

Visitors to the elementary schools will continue to enter using the doorbell system at the front doors of the schools, and those coming to the middle/high school will use the Hamilton entrance.

Once entering, parents will be required to register at a reception desk, showing proof of identification and receiving a time-stamped guest pass.

Staff members currently enter the elementary school buildings using a electronic card swipe system.

Security procedures came under scrutiny in many local school districts following a shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school late last year.

Earlier this year, the Glen Rock Board of Education approved the addition of the “greeter” position at the middle/high school to perform security duty, opting against posting an armed guard.

At the time, board president Sheldon Hirschberg cited recommendations from law enforcement experts and a police response time to the schools that is “within seconds” as reasons for keeping the guard unarmed.

Visitors to the schools also recently became an issue when the district attempted to move polling places out of school buildings in advance of two upcoming fall elections.