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“Feeling Safe” was the topic of discussion at the special meeting of the Dover-Eyota School Board. The meeting was called in the wake of the school shootings in Connecticut. “Students and teachers are not going to do well if they don’t feel safe,” said Bruce Klaehn, Dover-Eyota Superintendent. “We have to find a reasonable point and I am of the feeling that some increased level is warranted.”

Klaehn shared discussion points with the school board that he received from employees, administration and parents. One of the concerns that came out of discussions was that people tend to get sloppy and prop doors and let people in through locked doors without knowing their business. “We need to tighten up on things like that,” said Klaehn. Klaehn said there was some anxiousness immediately after the shootings, but the calls from parents were more about ideas and some were just a lack of knowledge. He was looking for direction from the school board on the level of security they wanted to see.

The board came up with a number of steps moving forward on evaluating and improving the level of security at the three schools. The Dover School, where the pre-school and alternative school classes are held, presented different obstacles to a higher level of security. The board decided to look at what can be done short term, then evaluate the possibility of relocating the pre-school to the Elementary School in Eyota long term.

The district will review policies and procedures that can be implemented or upgraded immediately at all the schools. Some of those procedures being reviewed include locking the doors during the school day and having visitors be buzzed into the building, expanding the time of law enforcement presence, addressing locking doors quickly or maintaining them locked at all times during class and looking into how law enforcement would enter the building during a lockdown. There were mixed feelings about allowing a teacher to carry a gun to school if they had the proper permits and training. “I would be for a teacher or staff member that has the training and permit to carry a gun,” said board member and Deputy Sheriff, Todd Peterson. “They could have it to protect those kids, but there would be specific parameters.”

Security isn’t a new topic of review for the district. They have upgraded their security system with cameras, one point of entry to buildings, adding a part-time police officer and security drills. The board is looking for an answer to what is reasonable and affordable because they felt there is no means for complete protection from an intruder into the schools. “We want to remember, it’s an educational institution,” said Ron Pagel, school board chairman. The goal is to increase efforts to inhibit an intruder and limit any damage.

From discussions and meetings one thing became clear; “Our world has changed and so too the public tolerance for increased security in our schools.” The board agreed they wanted to stress that feeling safe is an important aspect of an educational system.