On April 15, the administration activated a new buzzer system for all students and visitors entering this school. Now, all school doors will be locked throughout the school day, and students may enter only through Doors 2, 4 and 13. These are the main office, student service and Freshman Center doors, respectively. Before admittance into the building, students and visitors must press a button, look into the camera and provide visual and verbal identification, after which secretaries will allow you to enter.

According to Principal John Williams, this system was originally planned to be in effect at the start of this school year, but delays in working out variance pushed the installation back until April.

“It’s just like any other construction project…it never finishes on time. So this was really as soon as we could get it in, but it was supposed to go in last August actually,” Williams said.

The administration decided to implement this system due to new advancements in technology and a futuristic outlook on providing security, especially in light of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Newtown, CT on Dec. 14, 2012.

“You know, as we continue to become more and more conscious about security and how vulnerable we all are…in any public place, I think every place like that is looking hard at what they can do. So this is just a logical step or evolution of that process,” Williams said. “We’ve had situations where we would’ve liked to have had more control over who just was able to come in our building. (The system) allows us to answer our door, and if somebody’s out there that throws up some red flags for whatever reason, then we don’t have to let them in.”

Junior Lili Arroyo, who frequently uses the buzzer system, said she thinks the new system is more effective in providing security for students, but that it will be able to prevent outside dangers better than internal dangers.

Arroyo said, “I think it’ll be more effective because now they have a face to place with everyone in the building. (Aggressors) can still come in any door at the beginning of the day, or they’re a student, they can come in at any point.”

Despite the benefits of increased security provided by the new buzzer system, Arroyo said she prefers the previous method of entering this school.

“I prefer the old system just because it was a lot simpler,” Arroyo said. “The first time I tried to get into the building, there were like six girls all staring at it, trying to figure out what to do, and no one could get in, so, yeah, I definitely think it does (cause more traffic congestion).”

Secretaries Melanie Green and Tricia McGuire said they agreed that the old system was preferable for them.

“(The new system) will help prevent unruly visitors. The drawback is it takes up a lot of time,” Greene said.

McGuire said, “(The new system) is not as accurate as (administration is) hoping it’ll be, because people sneak in when the door’s open. They’re not stopped just because of the traffic. We let somebody in, and if somebody else is coming in, they can quickly get in.”

Acknowledging that the new system is not as easy and fast as the previous system, and that it has its loopholes as does any security system, Williams said the buzzers are important because of the safety they do provide.

“It’s not as easy as when people just walked in, but security is not easy. It’s inconvenient,” Williams said. “We want our school to be accessible. It’s a balance of trying to ensure safety as best as we can, but still make sure that people get to come into our school.”

With the buzzer system up and running, Williams said the school will continue looking to expand its security for the upcoming school year.