GHS tightens security with mandatory IDs
November 7, 2014
Students were called to an assembly on Friday to roll out new security protocols at Gloucester High School. Starting Monday, November 10th, student and staff identification badges must be worn and visible at all times.
GHS Principal Erik Anderson said the new rule is intended to ensure the safety of students. According to Anderson, people who do not belong in the building have been finding their way in.
“I know this building is not as safe and secure as it should be,” said Anderson at the ninth and eleventh grade assembly this morning.
Anderson says because anyone can come into the school and look like a student or staff member, the IDs will make it easy to identify someone who is not supposed to be in the halls of GHS. It also creates a way to identify everyone in the school.
The requirement that student IDs should be worn at all times was attempted last year. Students did not respond well to this new rule, and it did not go as planned. This year however, the rule will be enforced.
Students who forget their IDs will be sent to the office for temporary ones. If a student is caught without his or her ID a third time, he or she will receive detention and administration will call home.
If a student is caught without his or her ID a fourth time, he or she will be suspended for one day. Continued non-compliance will result in additional suspension.
“Everyone knows each other in this school,” said Christian Sanfilippo, a student who is opposed to mandatory IDs. “Why do we need them? It seems a bit excessive.”
Visitors will be asked to sign in at the main office before they go anywhere else in the building. They will be required to wear a visitor’s pass.
“Your seventy year old grandmother, who is no threat to a fly, she is going to come to the office and get a visitor’s badge,” said Anderson.
The carpentry class is building a half wall to block part of the main entrance, so there is no way for visitors to avoid the main office.
“It isn’t something we have to like. But, it is something we have to respect,” said Dean of Students Chris Kobs.
With a recent arrest at GHS, a bomb threat at O’Maley Middle School, and a lock down drill this week, student safety has become a main focus.
Eventually, all students will be asked to enter through one door, and other entrances to the school will be locked and restricted from use. Anderson says he has considered the possibility of students trying to find ways to keep the doors open. “I was a high school student,” said Anderson. “And it would have bugged me too.”
Ms Militello • Nov 19, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Awesome article Brianna.
I believe it’s a good idea.
Petey Pereira • Nov 14, 2014 at 9:52 am
In my opinion the ID’s are not a big deal at all and everyone who’s complaining about them just needs to get over it, there is really nothing any of us can do about it. The only thing I don’t like about the ID’s is that we get punished for not wearing them which I think isn’t fair. Some of us are forgetful and don’t mean to leave our ID’s behind when we come to school. And if we lose it we have to pay money out of our pockets to replace it, and I know the ID probably doesn’t cost that much to replace but not everyone has that few extra dollars to buy a new one. Under normal circumstances wearing the ID’s is not a big deal, but the fact that if we don’t have it three days out of the entire school year we get suspended and that doesn’t seem fair to me. I agree with the whole everyone should wear ID’s thing but there is no need to punish kids for not wearing it i get that the school probably thinks that if they don’t punish us nobody will wear them which is most likely true, but to have such a harsh punishment for not wearing it is unethical and the school really needs to rethink their punishment policy concerning the ID’s.
Claire knowlton • Nov 11, 2014 at 11:18 pm
I understand why these IDs are needed , all the other schools are evolving to become more safe environments, but there is no need for a suspension for forgetting it 3 days out of the whole year.
Danielle Larrabee • Nov 11, 2014 at 7:20 pm
I also agree that the student ID’s are not a big issue and are meant to help. Although the ID’s may be uncomfortable at first every one will soon get used to them. They are only there to protect all the students and staff.
Emily Kenyon • Nov 11, 2014 at 6:08 pm
I don’t understand why he brought up the fatal incident that occurred at Danvers, I thought the perpetrator was a student at the school. So, the badge would not have protected anyone, the student would have been wearing one, it would not have alerted school officials he was not attending classes there.
Julia Ellsworth • Nov 11, 2014 at 5:16 pm
It’s sad that these days, that schools are becoming more amped up on safety. It’s sad to think that we live in a world where people have to be ever so cautious.
Rebecca Pollock • Nov 10, 2014 at 4:03 pm
I can understand why Mr. Anderson would like us all to wear the ID’s, its to ensure all of our safety. But, I’m skeptical of how much safety the ID is giving us. People can still easily walk straight through the front door and go all around the school. Someone could easily make a guest name tag or whatever it is that they are making people wear who are not staff or students in GHS. I feel that the wearing of the ID’s will last a couple weeks, and then students will start to slack off on wearing them and the staff will start to let it slide. Hopefully, the ID’s will have a success in that we will start to be ahead of other school protection wise. Like said before, its better to be safe than sorry.
Sara Corchado • Nov 7, 2014 at 3:58 pm
I agree with Spencer Taft on this one. Personally, I’d rather be safe than sorry. Though some may not respect the enforcements, I do. We go to school to learn, not to practice “drills” in case of emergencies. However, Principal Anderson did bring up the Danvers high scandal that occurred last year. Yes, crazy things happen sometimes, but we don’t deserve the repercussion.
SPENCER TAFT • Nov 7, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Personally, I think the ID’s aren’t a problem. People are making such a big deal out of it, but is it really that restrictive?