By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Students at Tucson Unified School District returned to class Thursday, Aug. 6, as the district unveiled a series of campus safety upgrades funded through a voter-approved $480 million bond program.
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School safety leaders said they spent the summer implementing the improvements, with more than $70 million of the bond specifically designated for health, security and safety projects across all TUSD campuses.
New fencing creates single point of entry
One of the most visible changes is the installation of new 8-foot security fences and gates at every TUSD campus. The district is investing more than $16 million in the upgrade, replacing fencing that Joe Hallums, senior director of school safety for TUSD, said was as low as 2 to 3 feet in some locations.
“We had some fencing out there that were 2 to 3 feet tall in some spots, raising that all the way up to 8 feet so we can ensure we have that single point of entry so we know who is coming and going from our campuses at any given time,” Hallums said.
TUSD says the following campuses will receive new or upgraded fencing:
- Hughes Elementary
- Kellond Elementary
- Ford Elementary
- Sabino High School
- Miles Elementary
- Project More
- Roberts-Naylor
- Lynn\Urquides
- Hudlow
- White
- Morgan Maxwell
- Roskruge
- Tolson
- Maldonado
- Magee
- Miller
- Johnson
- Bloom
- Bonillas
- Mary Meredith
- Dietz
- Lawrence
- CE Rose
- Henry
- Fruchthendler
- Gale
- Grijalva
- Vesey
- Gridley
- Erickson
- Wheeler
Security film reinforces windows against forced entry
Campus perimeters have also been reinforced with a system called Safe Haven Defense Security Film. The district is investing more than $2 million in the upgrade, which is designed to reinforce windows against bullets, forced entry and blasts.
“It’s a very robust security film, to ensure someone can’t just break a window and easily access once they reach our front doors,” Hallums said.
Staff badges, threat assessment and cameras
Employees can now trigger a lockdown or contact police with a single click using a safety badge worn around their necks. Students are also being encouraged to report threats or concerns about a fellow student’s well-being.
The district has also invested in its Comprehensive Student Threat Assessment Guidelines program, known as CSTAG, which Hallums described as a tool for evaluating potential threats and connecting students with resources.
“Evaluating our students so we can evaluate any specific threats that may be occurring in our campuses and putting in place interventions to not only ensure that threat isn’t carried out but also evaluating that individual student to ensure that they’re getting the resources they need to put themselves on the appropriate path,” Hallums said.
More than $7 million has been invested in new exterior and interior cameras across TUSD campuses. Hallums said the layered approach is designed to ensure the district knows who is on campus, what they are doing and where they are at all times.
“A top priority like we always say is the safety and the health of our students, that our parents entrust us to further with their students every single day,” Hallums said.
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