NAHANT — The town is using $50,000 in funding allocated from the Commonwealth’s fiscal year 2024 budget to make safety and security improvements at Johnson Elementary School, such as enhanced security-camera surveillance, fencing, and door locks.
Superintendent of Schools Tony Pierantozzi said he assembled a committee comprising Johnson School employees, police officers, School Committee members, firefighters, Department of Public Works officials, and members of the town’s staff to determine how the school could be made safer.
Additionally, Pierantozzi said members of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council inspected the school and suggested security improvements such as additional exterior cameras to eliminate blind spots, security film on the windows, and the installation of an 8-inch laminated-glass wall at the school’s front-entrance window.
“Unfortunately, in the world we live in today, the safety and security of our students, staff, and visitors has become something that we need to expend a lot of funds, time, and planning to make sure that we are ready for almost any possible breach of safety and security,” Pierantozzi said.
So far, the district has already installed a fence between the parking lot and playground, purchased improved radio systems that can directly communicate with the Police Department, installed bollards — large concrete pillars capable of stopping vehicles — in front of the school, and added a laminated-glass security window at the front entrance.
In addition to installing new security cameras, Pierantozzi said the district will install new electronic-lock mechanisms on the school’s entrances in the near future.
“We’re going to have some of the locks changed on the outside of the building so that they’re more secure,” Pierantozzi said. “We are replacing two of the electronic systems to close the doors automatically because they work most of the time but sometimes they don’t, and that’s not acceptable.”
Pierantozzi said the Johnson School is already ahead of the game in its efforts to protect students and staff. He said the school already had a strong security foundation thanks to features such as its interior and exterior cameras and double-entry system.
“They (MLEC) found our school to be in really good shape before we started the improvement. We have had a lot of very simple and complex procedures in place, which are still here,” Pierantozzi said. “Unfortunately, in the world we live in, it’s something we have to be constantly vigilant about.”
