Card-Based Entry, Cameras Part of Milford Schools Security Plan

A card-based system to gain entry to the schools and surveillance cameras are two of the security updates discussed by Facilities Manager Robert Quinn at a recent school committee meeting.

As part of the facilities plan for the 2014-15 school year, an axis control system was installed at each school in the district to limit who can and cannot gain entry to the buildings.

With the system, faculty members, staff, and athletics coaches can open the doors to the schools with a swipe card on a predetermined schedule.

New staff members will get a swipe card that should be returned if they leave the school district. If the card is not returned, it can be deleted from the system.

“It’s completely accountable. We can see see what time an employee comes into the building, what time they left, what time a door is open. We can see if a door is opened even if the door isn’t opened with a card,” Quinn said.

Almost every employee has a card, with more expected to arrive at the end of next week.

In addition to the doors, Quinn said that they are using 29 security cameras at the high school and five at Memorial School. The next goal is to install cameras at the Stacey School and later the new Woodland School.

Quinn added that older exterior cameras will be redeployed as interior cameras due to the quality.

“The cameras are getting better every month. We’re taking cameras we had on the exterior, they’ve gotten so much better and we’re using the old one on the interior space,” he said.

At the Memorial and Stacey Schools, new vestibule areas have been created for visitors to check in before they are granted access to the building. Quinn said it is working, noting he has had to check-in and grab vendors several time during the day.

“This is another way to make sure our students are safe. Is it sometimes annoying? Yes, but it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

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