I parked my car on the far side of the parking lot at Norwich Middle School and waited for a few moments, collecting my thoughts and calming my nerves. I surveyed the building, and immediately saw three separate sets of doors; each had signs displayed in the window directing visitors to the office. Never having been to the middle school, I was unsure which set of doors would lead me to the office, so I started at the end, and began trying to gain entry. I attempted to open three separate sets of doors, all of which were locked. The last set of doors I tried was located adjacent to the office, so I assumed I had been seen, and entered through the designated entrance. I found myself in the main office. The receptionist immediately directed me to sign in. The door to the school was against the opposite wall; there was no way to sneak through the office undetected. I asked to speak with the principal about school security, but was not able to do so at the time.
In a later phone call, Middle School Principal Lisa Shuchman told me security is a high priority in the district. She explained the security measures that were in place. “All staff are required to have badges,” Shuchman said. “Adults and students must enter through the main office, and all other doors remain locked.” Although school security is a top priority, Shuchman does not seem to think it is much of a threat. “People know I see things, and I know who is coming in and out of the building,” she said. Shuchman said the school can never be too safe. Pre-emptive measures like installing metal detectors are not currently necessary in the Norwich District, but if the need were to arise, Shuchman said she would not be opposed to it.
Pulling up to the Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton Central School, I did not immediately know where the main entrance was located. I drove my car around the building and parked in the very back. I simply began trying doors, starting in the rear. I circled the building, finding one locked door after another. I passed many windows as I walked, but they were tinted, so I could not see what or who was on the other side. I passed a small courtyard type area, but no one was outside. Making my way to the front of the building, I tried opening the last set of doors before reaching the main entrance, and found those too to be locked. I entered the school, finding myself in a foyer area. A visitor’s desk was set up right inside the door. The woman manning the desk immediately noted my arrival and pointed me toward the sign-in sheet. To gain further access into the school, I would have had to pass the visitor’s desk and the main office.
I asked to speak to the superintendent, and she directed me to his office, the entrance to which was at the very front of the foyer. The office was empty when I entered. I waited for several moments, but no one entered or exited. I walked through the office, looking for someone to speak to, but found no one. I left the office, having to again pass the woman at the front desk - she was directing a late arriving student to sign in, but she still noticed my appearance. I agreed to speak with the superintendent via telephone, and left the school.
Superintendent Doug Exley called later that day. Although his school seemed to be one of the safest, Exley said he is still concerned with further monitoring and protecting his school. The school has a security committee, made up of members of the administration, faculty, parents and students. Exley said there is a constant need to watch all doors and make sure they are closed. He also hopes to increase evening security, during sporting events and group meetings, when gaining entry is fairly easy. In addition to the normal security precautions, G-MU has an alarm system, the details of which could not be released. “Individuals can utilize the alarm in emergency situations, and it lets key people know there is a problem,” Exley said.
According to the G-MU superintendent, “the number one thing, is to have people on guard.” Exley wants to maintain a balance between security and community availability, but he says he is prepared to “take every security measure within reason.”