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Buncombe Co. School Security Upgrades

Updated: Friday, January 11 2013, 07:29 PM EST

Security cameras  and locking doors  will soon be installed on all elementary and intermediate schools in Buncombe County. County officials approved $100,000 for the security upgrades. The school's secretaries will be able to view anyone trying to enter the building.

A similar system is already in place at Oakley Elementary School. All doors are locked during the school day and visitors must walk through the front door. A video camera shows people approaching the main door and it stays locked until the secretary identifies the visitor.  Secretaries are trained to spot suspicious behavior and packages and also call for assistance if there’s trouble.

A similar system to the one at Oakley Elementary will be installed in all Buncombe elementary and intermediate schools. That’s good news to Fairview Elementary parent Mark Fields. He’s organized a petition drive to urge officials to provide tighter security for elementary students. His goal is to put armed resource officers in each school, but says video cameras and locking doors are a good start.

Follow Sherrill Barber on Twitter @SherrillBarber