Security for schools is priority for Neal

The next building project for Pea Ridge schools involves security of facilities as school officials reevaluate the safety of the district’s property.

School Board members will meet in a work study session an hour before the regular board meeting Monday, school superintendent Rick Neal said. The study session will begin at 5:15 with board meeting at 6 p.m. The meeting is the the professional development center on the Intermediate School campus.

Reevaluating each school building, the entrances, exits and security, Neal said. He plans to show photographs of all entrances to the buildings at the study session and offer suggestions for improved security.

“It’s two phase - structurally and procedurally,” Neal said of security. “It’s essential that we keep our children safe.”

Neal met with Police Chief Tim Ledbetter to discuss security immediately after the shooting at Sandy Hook, Conn., and plans to meet with Ledbetter andSchool Resource Officer Lon Brown.

“We are collaboratively working together,” Neal said.

“We’ve built all the new schools; we’re in the process of building a new stadium. The security of the schools is the next building project,” Ledbetter said. “We need to look for any flaws and fix them.

“We talked about building security and about training staff,” Ledbetter said.

Other items on the School Board agenda include:

◊ Student transfer

◊ Calendar considerations

◊ Superintendent evaluation

◊ Teacher evaluation system

◊ ALE program presentation by Aaron Gaffigan and staff

The next school board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11.