Safe and sound: Schools enact combination of approaches to campus security

The ongoing debate over what measures ought to be taken to ensure safety in schools usually revolves around defensive measures and lockdown protocols.

But Jeff Worley, dean of students at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau, says reactive measures are an incomplete approach to school security.

"You're missing a major aspect of what factors into these situations if you don't take a proactive approach seriously," Worley says. "In recent years, we've continued to expand our camera system, as technology changes, higher resolutions and that sort of thing, and we have a school resource officer who helps regulate general traffic in and out of the building, but we don't want to just completely lock down, put bars on the windows and chains on the doors."

Brother David Migliorino, principal at Notre Dame, says rather than prioritizing more authoritarian measures, the administration devotes resources to cultivating a healthier, more inclusive learning environment.

"When you hear about schools with trouble, or these tragic shootings and things, you always hear that the child was a loner, or that he was ostracized or made fun of," Migliorino explains.

Al Spencer, resource officer at Notre Dame Regional High School, sits at his desk in the front lobby of the school. (Laura Simon)

"Yes, cameras are important, yes, locker checks are important," he says, but adds he would not want a school to feel like any sort of prison.

Instead, they've established institutional checks and balances, not just to keep students safe, but to keep them engaged and invested.

Groups of teachers, coaches and counselors are assigned to "Discovery Teams" that meet every two weeks to identify problems and solutions, says Danny Strohmeyer, dean of student activities at Notre Dame.

How can we reach out to them?" he says. "The whole point of the committees is to look out for those students who are struggling in any way."

"It kind of freaks me out, the thought that things like that happen," says Jordan Huff, a junior at Notre Dame. "But I just feel so safe here."

"A big part of the comfortable setting is the tradition of the students," agrees Robert Hearnes, a senior. "I don't think there's one student here that wouldn't do something for another student, whether it's saying a prayer or something. It takes everyone to feel like a big family."

Worley says one of the most impactful programs is a lock-in for seniors and incoming freshmen before the school year begins.

"We wanted the mindset to change, to make students feel more welcome," he says.

The administration hopes by having the students spend time together, elder students will invest in the underclassmen's well-being.

The school resource officer, a retired policeman, maintains certification but even dresses in civilian clothes so as to be more approachable.

"When you look at the whole overall spectrum, the school climate is as important as any piece of equipment we could put in," Worley says. "It's more important, really."