Jefferson Parish Schools working to install security vestibules

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Security upgrades, such as safety vestibules, are on the way to 13 Jefferson Parish Schools.

It’s part of the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools grant program, which is awarding the district over $600,000 to enhance physical security in schools.

Chief Operations Officer for Jefferson Parish Schools, Patrick Jenkins calls it an extra layer of security.

“We’re here to educate children, and when children are safe when our adults on our campus, our teachers, administrators and even when parents are coming on, we want to do everything that we can do to mitigate and reduce the risk on our campuses for any potential incidents,” said Jenkins.

But how will the safety vestibules work?

“When a parent or visitor comes to the school, they have an area where they’ll be contained, prior to going to the next level of the school, ” said Jenkins. “This would be similar to what schools will have. So, as we are entering campuses, they will not be able to go beyond a particular area on the campuses. So, they will either have to be buzzed in, or they will have to use an ID.”

With more than 48,000 students, they aren’t stopping at upgrading features on the inside of schools but setting aside some funding to protect students outside school doors.

“When we look at outside activities, with these football games now it’s football season and volleyball, adding additional lighting, for safety around the campuses. We want to keep everyone as safe as we possibly can,” said Jenkins.

With this being such a new asset for the district, they are moving quickly, searching for engineers and architects as they have a year to make this a reality.

“Once this is done and the board approves, the architects for each of those projects, then we will start the design phase. And then, after the design phase, the process of actually the construction component of it,” said Jenkins.

While only 13 schools will be getting the vestibules this year, officials say they’re working to get them on every campus in the parish.

“We did apply for all 68 schools. And hopefully in the future, additional dollars would be available, and we can come back and apply for their schools that weren’t selected,” said Jenkins.

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