School safety investigation: Sedalia, Iberia and Fatima

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 News asked for dozens of Mid-Missouri school districts' security plans, maintenance records and expenses ahead of the 2022-2023 school year.

Among them is the Sedalia School District, which had 4,953 students enrolled last school year.

Last school year the district spent a chunk of money on its security team and school resource officers -- police officers assigned to schools. Expenses include:

• SRO program 2021-22: $4,596 monthly; $55,152 total
• 2019 Dodge Charger for security director: $21,000
• Ammunition for security: $6,625
• School officer summer training: $3,600

Over the last five years, the district has spent more than $3.2 million on security expenses and of that, more than $724,000 just last year. Here is the breakdown of last year's spending:

• 2021-22 total: $724,229.32
• 2021-22 security payroll and benefits: $560,571.50
• 2021-22 security monitoring service: $51,749.43
• New cameras, radios and tasers for officers

The district reported three lockdowns last school year, but it did not provide its lockdown policy or maintenance records for doors and locks, citing open records law exemptions.

Iberia R-V

Iberia had 672 students enrolled last school year. The district did not provide its maintenance records for doors and locks or its security expenses, also citing open records law exemptions.

It did provide some details on its security plan:

• Visitors must sign in at the building office.
• All doors are locked during the day except the front entrance.
• School principals check door locks regularly.
• Intruder drills are led by law enforcement.

Osage County R-III (Fatima)

Fatima had 720 students enrolled last school year. Here are some highlights of its security expenses and upgrades from the last five years:

• 2018 new intercom system: $26,344
• 2021 keyless entry on exterior doors: $23,797
• New wall and doors for high school entry
• Current door replacement project expected to finish by Thanksgiving

Here are some details on Fatima's safety plan:

• Classroom doors closed and locked at all times
• Daily lock checks
• Teachers use Rave Panic Button app for active shooter
• Teachers use U-bolts on classroom doors for active shooter

ABC 17 School Safety Plan Investigation

This week ABC 17 looked at school safety and security for around 15 Mid-Missouri school districts. ABC 17 is committed to answers about what school districts in the region are doing to keep kids safe. 

Out of all the school districts ABC 17 requested open records from, 13 did not provide any safety records or polices, 13 responded with limited information, and only two provided all documents requested.

School districts that provided no records or policies:

1. Morgan County R-1
2. Northwestern R-I School District
3. Northeast R-IV
4. St. Elizabeth R-IV
5. Jamestown C-1
6. Southern Boone County R-1
7. Osage County R-II, Linn School District
8. Keytesville R-III
9. Fayette R-III School District
10. Osage Co. R-1
11. Miller County R-III
12. Harrisburg R-VIII

School districts that provided limited information:

1. Osage County R-III Fatima
2. Fulton 58 Public Schools
3. Renick R-V
4. Miller County R-III
5. Sedalia #200
6. California R-1
7. Columbia Public Schools
8. Iberia R-V
9. Blair Oaks R-II
10. Jefferson City Public School District
11. New Bloomfield R-III
12. Eldon School District
13. Cole County R-V School District
14. Mexico Public School District #59

School districts that provided all documents requested:

1. Moberly School District
2. Clarksburg C-II

ABC 17 will continue its school safety plan coverage throughout the school year as it receives more open records responses from Mid-Missouri school districts.