The Tippecanoe Valley School Safety Committee conducted a safety audit of all TVSC buildings in the spring of 2013. It was determined that school day entry procedures at all TVSC buildings needed to be safer and use the same process at every building.

During the summer of 2013, the Department of Homeland Security – Secured Schools Safety Grant offered schools the opportunity to apply for a $50,000 matching grant for safety upgrades. The TVSC School Safety Committee applied in the fall of 2013 and was awarded this grant funding for the upgrades in January of 2014. Throughout this spring semester, bids were secured and work began on the project at the conclusion of the school year. This work is in process now and will be completed over the summer break.

Construction of the new school hours entry door at TVMS.

The project is designed to create a standard, safe entry procedure at all school buildings for school hour’s entry. Visitors will be directed to the main entry at all locations, either door 1 or door A.

An intercom, video, and buzzer system will be installed and/or upgraded at all buildings and all exterior doors will be locked until office personnel release the lock and allow visitors into the office. No building will allow direct access to student areas. All entry ways will funnel visitors through a secured foyer area into the office directly.

The new TVMS school hours entry into the office to the right of the old main entry which entered the cafeteria

This upgrade requires hardware installation and new signage at TVHS, Mentone, Central Office, and Burket. Akron and TVMS require more extensive remodeling which is occurring over the summer.

At Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, daytime visitors will be routed directly into the office through a new entry door located to the right of the old main entry area. A waiting area and sliding window have also been added to the interior of the new entry.

At Akron, new one-way door structures will be added to restrict access to all areas except the office once visitors enter the building. All work is expected to be completed and ready for the start of the 2014-2015 school year.

Additionally, the TVSC School Safety Committee applied for additional grant funding through the 2015 Department of Homeland Security – Secured schools Safety Grant.  TVSC was awarded an additional $21,000 in matching funds for further school safety improvements in the 2015-2016 school year.

The TVSC School Safety Committee is a member of the Kosciusko County Safe Schools Commission. We are constantly looking at ways to keep our system safe for your children. We are honored to serve this community and strive to make our schools safe so that high level learning may take place.