Blue Ridge Elementary will see security upgrades

The Columbia Public Schools District Board of Education is moving ahead with security upgrades to Blue Ridge Elementary School in north Columbia.

The project will also include remodeling. But the front door will be replaced with bullet-resistant window sheeting.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen so we have to put the safety of our students first,” said CPS board president Jan Mees.

CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the new buildings are already being constructed with safety and security enhancements built in, but the older ones have to be retrofitted.

The entrance to Blue Ridge will also be a single point of entry.

“We have put in money for this in our last bond issue and we will continue to do this at various buildings until we feel that everything is safe enough for our students from the outside, so they are not at risk,” said Mees.

Verslues Construction Co. Inc. out of Jefferson City has proposed to do the work for $937,395.

The money would come out of CPS’ Capital Projects Fund.

No word on when construction could begin.

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