Sandy Hook had the video and buzzer setup and the guy still forced his way in. I have seen these systems circumvented easily at schools I have been in. Most of the time a student will see an adult coming to the door, doesn't matter if they know the adult or not, and will open the door for the adult. My first day doing some observations at a local private school, where nobody knew who I was, I had a main entrance door opened for my by two young girls. I went to the room I was assigned, but then found out the plan had changed and the principal needed to speak to me so I had to tap on the door to get back into the main building and I was let right on by another teacher who did not know me. So I was surprised me to find out during my orientation to the school that they a video/buzzing system and all other days required a pass-code or swiping of a badge to get in. In less than 30 minutes, I had entered the school twice by circumventing the security in place. During my short few days there, I saw this security system be bypassed several times by both students and staff.

I applaud Dr. Nichols and staff for not allowing fear to be their guide in improving school safety. So many of the changes suggested were drastic, fear based modifications that would create a military atmosphere for our children. We must seriously consider what is to be sacrificed in the name of protection.

not going to help with an Idiot with a gun shooting his way into the building , need armed personnel and good plans in place to protect the students. A camera and a buzzer will not stop and armed deranged moron that has an intent to harm people, only someone with a weapon will be able to stop them .

@ tbone . . . . EXACTLY!! A bad force can only be stopped by a good and greater force.

"S", did you eve read my comment? I repeat, this type of system is easily bypassed and will not stop a determined nut-job. So, if you have a different opinion, then those opposed to you are "fear based"? Please explain. Unless you mean we fear for the safety of our children, then I would agree with you. Otherwise you sound very close-minded, though I bet you tell everybody you are an open-minded individual. Your "military atmosphere" comment was a bit much, but an example of how certain groups like to use extreme terms when they have not real substance to present in a debate.

Cameras and buzzers will do nothing to protect our school children from the mentally ill peron who is shooting at them. We need professionally trained personnel [I repeat "professionally trained"] personnel to make sure these shooteers don't make it in-side the building. If we put a one cent tax on every Pepsi, Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc.sold, there would be plenty of money to finance this. We also need to stop calling the shooters "crazies" they are ill and need help.. I pray we can act on this before another child is hurt . God Bless and protect them.

I know of 2 teachers currently teaching in the Decatur City School System who were former Police officers for over 15 years, one of which was one of our own in the DPD. Why are these 2 teachers not allowed to carry a concealed weapon? 10 years ago they could walk our school halls in uniform with a gun on their side and NOBODY blinked an eye or gave it a 2nd though. Other than a career change . . . what is different? And please don't say it's against school policy or the law. I got that.

@ Calhoun - Was I supposed to read your comment? Wow, how arrogant. No, I didn't read one word of it. My comment was in response to the article and I couldn't care less what you think. I do hope someone is keeping watch on your explosive personality though.

Regarding Austin High School...What good is a camera/buzzer type of security system when the campus consists of several buildings?

While I think the decision to install buzzers and cameras is a good one, there is nothing that will protect people 100%, including the ridiculous idea of armed teachers or armed guards. If a person is determined enough to kill people, and they have easy access to the weapons to do it, they will. If not in a school it will be a playground, mall, movie theater, or store.

The only reasonable solution is to make it much, much more difficult for people to gain access to these weapons to begin with. Just like the First Amendment gives you the right to free speech, it does have restrictions - i.e. you can't make terrorist threats, yell fire in a crowded theater, etc. The Second Amendment needs to have restrictions as well as to who can own firearms and what type and how many can be owned.

You cannot protect the public from the "crazies"....period. Do all the buzzers you want, do all the gun control you want, take any extreme measures you want....a deranged person will find a way to kill. Ever hear of the federal building in Oklahoma City? A few hundred pounds of fertilizer, petroleum, wires, etc. Where there is a will, there is a way. All the steps you can take are a waste of taxpayer's money! Making the effort is just a "feel good" ploy....Calhoun has it right, there are too many ways for these safegards to not work correctly.

i am agreeing with more SRO (armed of course) i agree bad force stopped with good/better force, i agree with no matter what we do there will be one out there to bypass all we do, i agree atleast make it more difficult, its just too easy to walk in any school or be 'let in' around here. the only thing i see that MIGHT not benefit all the above is like the fed bldg in Oklahoma City

B U T..... had there been regular armed officers 'TRAINED' to notice unfamiliar vehicles or anything unfamiliar, they could act on it, get it out of there, alarm sound for the school to clear opposite side of school etc. My child IS MY LIFE, MY CHILDS LIFE IS PRICELESS, if the school looks like a military SO BE IT, id rather him go to a military style school everyday & know he is safER, & he can concentrate on learning instead of worrying about all this crap. the trend lately is kill people then be the CRAZY COWARD THEY ARE & KILL THERESELVES, INSTEAD OF KILLING THEMSELVES F I R S T !