School Security Measures

The horrendous tragedy in Connecticut brings forth anew the question that schools hassle with on a consistent basis. How do you keep schools safe? As an educator I can truthfully say that we worked at it daily every minute of the day. Our students and their safety was always in the "forefront" of the mind.

I worked in public schools for too many years to confess and the longer I worked the tighter security within and around schools became. That should be an all telling factor of our society and its problems. This past school year I worked as a volunteer in a middle school media center in a school system other than the one in which I worked as an employee. Security measures were tight in the middle school, as well, with a full-time security officer on duty at all times.

I read a news report last evening which contained the letter written by the principal of the Newtown, Connecticut school concerning security policies and measures for the school year. It was detailed and set forth policies to be followed. Doors locked at 9:30 AM each morning. To gain access to the building you had to go through an identification process. This young man (killer) forced his way into the building and killed the principal and guidance counselor on his way to the classrooms to murder these children and teachers.

Who has the answer to this question? School systems and administrators work at policies for keeping students safe within the constraints of their budgets constantly.
Of course, the first thing you hear are calls for gun control which is a political hot button not necessarily divided by political party. The constitution guarantees the right to bear arms.
Interpreting the meaning of that right is another issue!!

Would states have the money to fund a security officer for the door of each school in this nation to better guarantee the safety of students? What is the answer to this huge, huge issue?? Any viable suggestions?