Taylorsville Elementary is installing security fencing to close off the playground, field, and the side and back portions of the property from the front of the building, according to a November 2 statement from Principal Jared R. Broderick.
The installation aims to comply with a recent state law intended to improve school security by ensuring students remain in a secure area during school hours.
Under the new procedures, only Taylorsville Elementary students and staff will be allowed onto the secure side of the school property during school hours, which run from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., or 2 p.m. on early days. School personnel will be stationed at each gate to ensure that only faculty, staff, and students pass through safely.
Parents are not permitted to pass through the gates onto the secure side of the property. For those with legitimate reasons to enter, the school requires individuals to go to the office, be screened by personnel, and receive a visitor badge. Parents who wish to wait with their child are encouraged to do so in the parking lot until 8:55 a.m. before sending the student to a gate to line up for the 9 a.m. bell.
The school noted several safety concerns that prompted these changes. According to the statement, there have been incidents of parents talking to students who are not their own child on the playground, parents looking through kindergarten windows, and parents entering the cafeteria or hallways during breakfast. Additionally, the school reported instances of parents, patrons, or junior high and high school students entering the playground or field during school time and recess.
The decision to implement these procedural changes followed discussions held in both the PTA and Community Council meetings in September to gather input from parents, community members, and school personnel. The new procedures will go into effect once the installation reaches the point where the gates are functional.
Principal Jared R. Broderick stated that while change can cause unintended stress or difficulty, the plan is designed to do what is best for students by keeping them safe and ensuring a positive school experience.
