Broken Arrow schools to add more security guards 'as part of long-term safety plan'

The Broken Arrow Public Schools announced Tuesday that it would add more security guards for the district "as part of a long-term safety plan." 

BAPS is adding 6 additional security guards, for a total of 14, for school sites. The guards will supplement four school resource officers who are employed by the Broken Arrow Police Department.

“The district is consistently reviewing and evaluating safety procedures in cooperation with the Broken Arrow Police Department and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” Executive Director of Student Personnel Services Derek Blackburn said. “Previously, we’ve hired additional guards as funding has allowed, but in the wake of national events, we are accelerating our plan to hire more security for the new school year.

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“Additional guards will allow us to have a presence at all elementary and secondary school sites at various times throughout the school day.”

While some details of BAPS' security plans are confidential, below are some facts regarding security at BAPS, the district says: 

• The district employs a campus security coordinator, who has more than 38 years of law enforcement, experience. His team includes district security guards who train in conjunction with the Broken Arrow Police Department. These guards supplement four BAPD school resource officers.
• BAPS maintains a FEMA-trained School Emergency Response Team (SERT) comprised of district administrators from varying sites and departments.
• All school sites feature secure entrance vestibules and conduct state-required emergency drills each semester, including lockdown and intruder drills.
• The district monitors more than 1,000 security cameras across the district.
• Every door will have a reminder to “Stop the Prop,” as the district DOES NOT leave doors unlocked or propped open.
• Students, families and employees can anonymously report violent threats, bullying and drug use through the district’s mobile app and through www.baschools.org/ReportIt
• All district sites will have the opportunity to utilize the Rave Panic Button app, which allows users to simultaneously connect with 9-1-1 and first responders and sends a text alert to school staff in the event of an emergency.

“We are incredibly thankful that our Board of Education and administrators are making swift moves to create a safer, more secure environment for our students and staff,” Blackburn said in a statement.