By Mike Horan | The Michigan Catholic

DETROIT — After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, safety has become even more of a necessity for schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

“It’s very important when you look at what happened in Connecticut; it touches everyone’s hearts, especially parents and educators,” said Mitch Hancock, dean of students at Novi Detroit Catholic Central. “We care very, very much about our students and kids, and it is very important to re-evaluate our security plans often and monthly.”

From new security systems to armed liaisons and identification badges, schools have been implementing new ideas to keep students and faculty safer.

Among those possibly moving to a new security system is Catholic Central. Currently the school has a “code red” and “code blue” policy, one more severe, where a lockdown is put in place.

“Due to the recent shootings, we have also looked into a security system with our front doors to put them into lockdown,” Hancock said, “and to install security cameras to where we can view every person who enters our building.”

Another school making efforts to improve its security is Pontiac Notre Dame Preparatory. Fr. Leon Olszamowski, S.M., the school’s president, said Notre Dame will work with the Oakland County Sherriff’s office to provide retired police officers and eventually, armed liaisons for security.

“We’re probably going to do this in the beginning of March or even before,” Fr. Olszamowski said. ”It’ll take a while for the captain to find a good match for our school. We’ll probably have one officer in each of our buildings and later on, probably next year, moving to a straightforward liaison officer.”

According to Fr. Olszamowski, providing armed liaison officers can cost anywhere from $130,000 to $150,000 a year.

“It’s not necessarily inexpensive to have security, but the kids are the most important thing that we’re about,” he said. “If we’re going to spend our dollar, this is the first place we’re going to spend our dollar. There’s no way around it for us.”

Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills holds security meetings on a monthly basis, and starting Jan. 22, all students will be required to wear a lanyard with their school identification attached.

“We have been proactive in treating the issue of security,” said Br. Michael Segvich, CFC, its principal. “I feel that we are safer than we were a few months ago.”

In addition to applying new security measures, schools agree working with local law enforcement is a large part of keeping their campuses safe.

“I think it’s important to work with local law enforcement and to work with some of your agencies to make sure they’re viewing what our schools are doing during these lockdown procedures and make sure it’s an adequate procedure,” Hancock said of Catholic Central.

St. Anne Catholic School in Warren believes another type of security is beneficial and should be practiced within school communities.

“The plan is to think about what may happen in advance,” said Principal Anthony Sahadi. “What we always do before and after the tragedy is to be very vigilant, to cultivate a school community where people feel free to speak their gut.”

Sahadi believes by creating a trustworthy environment, students will come forward when they spot something suspicious.

“The kids know something is up with one of their classmates, so what you have to do is create an environment in the school where the students feel comfortable to come to their teacher, come to their principal, come to their pastor to report suspicious activity, to report someone’s in trouble and know that it’s going to help that person and not be seen as being a tattle-tale,” he said.

As safety is becoming more and more of a priority, schools are urging having plans in place.

“Very important, unfortunately with the events that have been happening, it stresses the importance of security plans,” said Tim Scanlon, assistant principal at Bishop Foley High School. “Reviewing and relooking your security policies on a regular basis, that can help. “

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Mike Horan is a freelance writer from Shelby Township.