Security Measures

Dear Franklin Parents/Guardians:

In late January you were informed of new security measures the Council Bluffs School District is putting in place to enhance student safety at school.  On Wednesday of this week, you will notice that a magnetic lock and buzzer system will be activated at the front door of our school. 

The front door to Franklin School will be open from 8:30-8:45 a.m. each morning as students arrive. The door will then be locked at 8:45 a.m. through the end of the school day.  If you or your student comes to school after this time, you will need to press the button on the right-hand wall to notify the office of your presence.  A camera monitor has been installed in the office that shows us who is at the front door.  Our secretary, or other staff member in the office, will talk to you via the wall panel and ask your name and the purpose for your visit.  Identification may be requested.  Please plan to state your student’s name so that we can verify you as an approved contact for a child at Franklin as listed on the enrollment form.  After this verification is complete, you will hear the door unlock, and you can enter the school.  Please proceed directly to the office to sign in and receive a Visitor sticker.

I would ask that you make sure the contacts you have identified for your student at Franklin are current and accurate.  You can review your child’s contact information by going to the District website and logging into your PowerSchool account. If you don’t have PowerSchool access, you can call our school office for directions. Any additions or deletions can be completed by our school secretary.  Please be sure to notify us if there is a change in who will be picking up your child from school during the school day, or if someone new would be accessing your child at school.  As you know, we will not dismiss a child to someone not identified as a contact person, nor will we allow any other unknown person to enter the building. 

As with anything new, it will take time for all of us to adjust to this system.  I appreciate your patience as we learn to manage this new security feature.  Our efforts are completely focused on keeping all children and staff safe at Franklin. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lori Swanson

Principal

Security and Safety

Security and Safety Message to Parents/Guardians:

Mensaje de Seguridad y Protección a los Padres/Tutores:

  

In the aftermath of the tragic school shooting in Connecticut, the Council Bluffs Community School District, and most other school districts in the country, have placed a renewed emphasis on ensuring appropriate and effective security measures and safety procedures are in place at all school buildings. This focus in the Council Bluffs Schools is resulting in noticeable changes in the access to school buildings.

The Board of Education approved this week the purchase of electronic door systems for each elementary school. In the next several weeks, each school will be equipped with an intercom on the outside of the main entrance to the building. This will allow the door to be locked during school hours, but will still allow secure access to students, parents, volunteers and others who have a reason to be at the school.

When you arrive at a school, you will be asked to press the intercom button to request entry into the building during school hours. Students who arrive at school after the school start time will also have to press the intercom button. The intercom box will have a camera to allow a school staff member to see who is at the door and to unlock the door from the office as appropriate. The door will be monitored during school arrival and dismissal times so that students do not have to use the intercom as they arrive at school during these times.

This is one of several security measures being taken in the Council Bluffs Schools to enhance the safe and supportive learning environment for students. Thank you in advance for understanding the importance of this simple extra step we are asking visitors to take.

Mensaje de Seguridad y Protección a los Padres/Tutores:

A raíz del trágico tiroteo en  una escuela en Connecticut, el Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Council Bluffs,  y la mayoría de otros distritos escolares en el país, han puesto nuevo énfasis en garantizar medidas de seguridad adecuadas y efectivas y los procedimientos de seguridad se han establecido en todos los edificios escolares. Este enfoque en las Escuelas de Council Bluffs está dando lugar a cambios notables en el acceso a los edificios escolares.

El Consejo de Educación aprobó esta semana la compra de sistemas de puertas electrónicas para cada escuela primaria. En las próximas semanas, cada escuela contará con un intercomunicador en el exterior de la entrada principal del edificio. Esto permitirá que la puerta esté cerrada durante el horario escolar, pero seguirá permitiendo el acceso seguro a los estudiantes, padres, voluntarios  u otros que tienen una razón para estar en la escuela.

Al llegar a una escuela, se le solicitará que presione el botón del intercomunicador para solicitar la entrada al edificio durante el horario escolar. Los alumnos que llegan a la escuela después de que las clases hayan iniciado también tendrán que pulsar el botón del intercomunicador. La caja de intercomunicación tendrá una cámara para permitir que un miembro del personal de la escuela vea quién está en la puerta y al abrir la puerta desde la oficina, como corresponda. La puerta será monitoreada durante las horas escolares de entrada y de salida para que los estudiantes no tengan que usar el intercomunicador cuando lleguen a la escuela durante este horario.

Esta es una de las varias medidas de seguridad que se están adoptando en las Escuelas de Council Bluffs para mejorar el ambiente de aprendizaje seguro y de apoyo para los estudiantes. Gracias de antemano por la comprensión de la importancia de este simple paso extra que estamos pidiendo a los visitantes que tomen.