This year, safety measures have been enhanced to make the SHS campus more secure for students and staff. A new attendance ticket system, adjoining classroom door locks, and a planned spring evacuation drill represent some protocols designed to help school administrators and Scituate Public Safety departments protect everyone in the building. School Resource Officer Nick Sharry provided insight into these changes and their purpose for the SHS community.
Although assistant principals Bill Luette and Lisa Kirk have always monitored the main entrance and cafeteria doors at the beginning of the school day, this year, SHS mathematics teacher Phill Blake joined the morning security detail. Blake greets students who enter the building through the door closest to the parking lot assigned to juniors who drive to school. In the past, a teacher or administrator did not monitor this popular entrance point.
Officer Sharry also makes morning rounds to check high-traffic doors around the building, focusing on back doors often used by students for convenience. By ensuring all doors are closed and locked, the school reduces entry points for unauthorized individuals.“I go around every morning to check the high-traffic doors to make sure they’re not being propped open,” Sharry explained. “It’s about making sure nobody’s propping doors and that everyone’s coming through the front door so we can see who’s coming in and out,” he said.
When students arrive at school after 8:15 AM, they check in with the office, and they are given an automated ticket indicating their arrival time. Students give teachers this ticket when they report to class. This system helps maintain accurate attendance records.
Another safety feature is the magnetized doors in the hallways that automatically close during fire emergencies or drills. If the fire alarm is pulled or activated, the magnetic component of these doors is released, and the doors automatically close to assist in keeping an emergency contained. Officer Sharry explained that even if the doors are closed, students should exit through them if it’s the quickest and safest exit point. “Getting out of the building is the main objective, so if passing through these doors is the safest route, students should do so.”
After SHS teachers expressed concerns about SHS classrooms sharing connecting doors, locks were installed so teachers could prevent travel between rooms during a lockdown or emergency event. This feature is especially useful when movement needs to be limited to protect students and staff. Sharry said, “This feature was installed to make sure classrooms are as secure as possible during a lockdown-provoking emergency. It’s another layer of security.”
Scituate High School currently practices situational lockdown and stay-in-place drills, but discussions about adding a “Run, Hide, Fight” drill are ongoing. A full evacuation drill is scheduled for the spring to give students and staff a better understanding of evacuation procedures. Sharry noted that ensuring everyone knows the safety protocols is essential. “It’s a huge undertaking,” Sharry said, “because we’re gonna essentially have almost a thousand people involved.”
With these security measures, Scituate High School is taking notable steps to create a safer environment. By combining new technology with updated safety practices, the school aims to protect everyone on campus while maintaining accountability and awareness.