Martinez Schools Lock Classroom Doors

Classroom doors will now be locked during the day in all Martinez Unified School District schools, one of several measures being enacted as a result of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in December.

MUSD Superintendent Rami Muth said that the locked-door policy is one result of a meeting between the district and the Martinez police to review ways to make campuses safer.

“We realize that some of these changes may be inconvenient,” Muth said, “but we feel that these recommendations will help to increase the level of safety and security on our campuses.”

Doors will be locked during all class times, except for multi-use rooms and the library, she said.

“We recognize that a locked door is not going to prevent violence in our schools,” Muth said. “The police department discussed with us ways to slow or stop an intruder on campus, and a locked door is one method of doing so. School safety is a complex issue and we are looking at many different vantage points in addressing some of the concerns that have been raised as a result of the Sandy Hook tragedy.”

Other steps the district is taking include:

Reviewing emergency response plans and rehearsing them with staff and students, including drills at the end of January;

Requiring every visitor to sign in at the office and wear a visitor’s pass.

She said the district will also reprioritize some projects planned with Measure K funds to consider the purchase of security cameras and special locks. The police department also hopes to reinstate the school safety officer in the near future.

Do you think locked classroom doors are a good safety measure? Share your thoughts in the comments.