RCSD focusing on safety and security protocols

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Rochester City School District says the security and safety of both staff, and students is its highest priority. Despite two recent mass shootings, district leaders say security protocols are constantly monitored, and evaluated on a regular basis.

News10NBC hears what a few local districts are saying about their protocols.

School districts say they understand the fear and concerns some students, and their families may have, but also want to reiterate that overall school facilities are well protected.

"For us it’s just kind of some reminders about what’s in place for the safety of the students, and the staff, and to make sure that parents are informed of what these processes are," said Rochester City School District Chief Operating Officer Michael Schmidt.

He says protocols for school safety have not changed following Tuesday’s mass shooting at a Texas elementary school.

"We’ve always had a single point of entry," said Schmidt. He continued, "We’re going to continue to enforce that, and we always ask parents to make appointments to come in if they want to meet with a teacher, or the principal, or the school counselor."

Schmidt also reminds parents that all school exterior doors are locked, and well monitored.

"We have cameras at 95-percent of the entrance, and egress points across the district. So that’s also standard operating procedure, and if people chose to prop open a door for whatever reason, they’re held accountable for that," said Schmidt.

Similar to other schools, Hilton Central School District Head of Safety and Security David Inzana says they not only use a single point entry for visitors, but also a visitor management system.

"Visitor has to present some type of government ID," said Inzana. He went on to say, "Usually a driver’s license. We’ll run a check through our system, and then they will, as long as they have a legitimate reason to be there, 99-percent of the time I would say that those are arranged ahead of time."

Inzana says the district has requested more police presence.

"They really did it on their own anyway is just provide some more patrols through our school areas especially during arrivals, and dismissal times," said Inzana.

Greece Central School District sent us a statement saying in part, "We are also in the process of updating security cameras districtwide, and are about halfway through the replacement of all classroom locksets, so doors can be locked from inside classrooms rather than from the hallway."

For more information on your school district’s security and safety protocols, visit their website for updates.