The Russellville Independent school system is making sure that the district’s high school is secure after the school shooting last month in Connecticut.

Because the building is older, the front doors are not as secure as they could be. So last week, the district started having a substitute teacher in the lobby for the entire school day to let people in and out of the building.

“We have a temporary person manning the door,” superintendent Leon Smith said. “That person is there just to let people come in and exit.”

The front doors are now locked at all times, whereas before they were open during school hours.

“It’s been kinda nice,” Smith said. “In addition to letting people in and out, they have also been supervising the lobby and monitoring the parking lot. We’ve heard from a number of parents that like this.”

The district has already contacted some security companies to get quotes on a new buzzer system that would require anyone entering the building to identify themselves before entering the building.

Smith said that the new system will also include a video camera, which will allow the front office personnel to see the person who is asking to be let inside.

Both Stevenson Elementary and the new middle school wing already have sufficient buzzer systems for their front doors, Smith said.

“They are both in pretty good shape with their security,” Smith said.

But that doesn’t mean their is no room for improvement.

“We are going to be working with the Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement with some walk-throughs of all our buildings,” Smith said. “And after we do that, we will be taking recommendations from them about any additional security improvements we can make.”

Also, Smith said the schools will be practicing their lockdown procedures in the coming weeks.

“We hope that parents don’t become alarmed if they hear we are on lockdown,” Smith said. “We want to practice this so that we are doing everything correctly.”