By Kara Patman
Staff Writer
In light of the recent shooting at Sandy Hooke Elementary School in Connecticut, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District has been looking at implementing new security changes within MBUSD.
Changes to Costa’s security on campus are not finalized yet.
“We’re still trying to decide if it’s necessary to make any major changes to the security system,” Costa School Resource Officer John Loy said.
Members of the MBUSD Board of Trustees discussed safety at the Jan. 16 meeting. The presentation proposed increased fencing, safety drills and visitor check-ins.
“We always take safety seriously, but when experts across the country are scrutinizing it like they are now, all schools can learn,” MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said.
Manhattan Beach Middle School and Meadows Elementary School held lock-downs on Jan. 15 due to criminal action in the community. Matthews believes lock-downs could be used to discuss how to train staff to act in crisis situations.
“To stay safe, everyone is trained the same way in every district,” Loy said.
Some Costa students believe that the danger of a school shooting like Sandy Hook occurring on campus is not a major threat because the district provides a safe learning environment.
“Hearing about the shooting was frightening at first,” sophomore Molly Gerber said. “But I believe that Costa has a strong security system, and I am not worried.”
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