Sand Springs school's high tech security system

In the wake of the school shooting in Minnesota, the News on 6 wanted to know what the security is like at some local schools. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca visited a Sand Springs school

Tuesday, March 22nd 2005, 3:08 pm

By: News On 6

In the wake of the school shooting in Minnesota, the News on 6 wanted to know what the security is like at some local schools.

News on 6 reporter Omar Villafranca visited a Sand Springs school Tuesday with a high tech security system. The schools in the Sand Springs school district all have a digital lock system. They've had the system for a few years now and haven't experienced any major problems.

The locks at Sand Springs' Central 9th Grade Center keep teachers and students in and intruders out. The entrances come equipped with a sightline system. When a key is put into the lock, a digital device on the key grants access to the person at the door, if they have clearance.

Only the security administrator can make digital copies of keys. A laptop computer controls who has access, while recording who came in and at what time. Teachers can now better protect students inside the classroom if someone is shooting in the hallway. With the old system, if a teacher wanted to lock the door, they would have to come outside, put a key inside the door, turn it a complete 360, then they could pull the door closed. But during that time, a teacher was exposed and so were the students in the classroom. With the new system, it's much easier. All they have to do is come to the door and lock it closed.

Roy Bradley at Indian Lock and Safe says the system is top of the line and simplifies security. "They only have to issue one thing to the teacher. They issue them a key."

The system doesn't come cheap. Ray Bradley says they run about $2,500 per digital lock and the door handles costs about $90 each, but Bradley believes all schools will eventually buy these high tech locks.