Stricter Security for Sag Harbor

New security procedures went into effect yesterday in the Sag Harbor School District, according to an announcement posted on the district’s website.

“To proactively ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and staff and to create the best new building safety plan, we brought in a series of companies to audit our security systems and procedures,” the announcement reads. “Using their recommendations and our own research, we built on our existing security strengths and have been working to complete several safety upgrades to each of our buildings over the summer and into this fall.”

Upon their first visit to the school, visitors will now be asked for photo identification, and a security system will store the information. Upon subsequent visits, people will only have to give their names to receive a visitor’s tag. Large events, such as sports games or theater performances, will not require this check-in process.

About 70 more security cameras have been installed throughout both school buildings, and the school administration has also developed an “enhanced lockdown system” for use in both practice drills and real emergencies. The system “provides an added level of protection and incorporates an array of tools to safeguard our schools from outside dangers,” according to the district. It can be activated through alarm buttons that have been installed in various places, and through a cellphone app used by administrators, and it generates public address announcements and emergency instruction messages for students and staff members.

More water, temperature, and carbon monoxide sensors have also been added.

“Our children are safest when everyone complies with and supports the procedures we have in place,” the district said in its announcement