Columbia Public Schools to give annual update on safety, security measures

The safety and security director will give an update Monday night on preventative and protective measures the Columbia Public School District has taken over the last four years, as well as discuss some future plans.

The update comes almost four weeks after the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. It was originally scheduled to be given just days after the shooting.

Michelle Baumstark, spokesperson for CPS, said the school board members asked for the update during their summer retreat.

Baumstark sent a graphic that summarizes the safety and security measures members will be discussing during the school board meeting Monday night.

According to the graphic, 19 CPS buildings have proximity card readers and the Columbia Police Community Outreach Unit has access with key fobs. CPS administration is working to get all of CPD access to the buildings with the fobs.

CPS has upgraded technology to help with security, according to the graphic. An IT person was hired to help with the security systems and cameras.

Another update included in the graphic is security films, which are films placed on windows to make them stronger and shatter-proof. It shows that 15 CPS buildings have security films over mostly outside doors, and the district is working to implement more this year.

Four full-time student resource officers are located at each high school facility, and the Columbia Outreach Unit officers are at the elementary and middle schools on a daily basis, according to Peter Stiepleman, CPS superintendent.

The Board of Education meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Aslin Building.