CHESAPEAKE, Va. — For the past six years, members of the School Safety Taskforce have worked to make Chesapeake Public Schools a safer place.
The goal of the group is to evaluate school safety protocols and look for additional safety measures. On Wednesday night, the group shared some of its latest initiatives at a public forum.
The task force is made up of city council members, law enforcement personnel and school administrators to name a few.
Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton laid out some of the task force's latest initiatives to 13News Now.
“It’s almost overwhelming what we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time but we still have more work to do," he said.
Dr. Cotton said in the past several years, the school division hired more security guards and improved training. Additionally, sheriff’s deputies now monitor elementary schools.
The superintendent said all schools now have what’s called "AIPhones."
"You have to push a button. You’re on video. You have to show your ID," Dr. Cotton explained.
He said most secondary schools now have "security vestibules," which add an extra entryway before people get into schools.
Only about a dozen community members attended Wednesday's forum at Indian River High School. Still, some voiced concerns following the task force's presentation.
The concerns centered around the need for more security guards, fighting between students inside schools and possible security loopholes.
“We need more security," said one woman who spoke up at the forum.
“Instead, your security blocks the community. I go to the school regularly. I see so many loopholes," said one man.
The School Safety Taskforce is holding a second forum on May 22 at Indian River High School from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.