GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- From tornado drills to lockdown drills, security in schools has changed dramatically in the last two decades and districts around West Michigan are trying to keep up.
Kenowa Hills Public Schools and Lowell Public Schools received the largest portion in the area of a $2,000,000 grant from Michigan State Police last year, to improve security.
"Our students have to feel comfortable coming to school. They have to feel it's a safe place", said Lowell Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Pratt.
His district used the $178,000 it received from the MSP grant to improve a decades-old security camera system and add "shatterproof" glass to the entrances. The old camera system wasn't digital, and could only store videos for one for two weeks.
Approved staff members, like the school resource officer (SRO) or the superintendent, can access the new system from anywhere in the district and can pull up video from 30 days prior, or more. They don't have someone constantly monitoring the feed, but Pratt says it's not strictly reactive.