CHARLOTTE — After consulting with parents, principals and security experts, Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools recently added additional safety measures including roving security officers, more emergency planning, and additional training for school personnel.
School security officers, who began circulating at the nine MACS campuses on Nov. 1, are trained to collaborate, de-escalate and – depending on circumstances – act decisively to keep kids safe.
The officers are armed, as they are at many public, private and religious schools, and they bring law enforcement and military experience that school officials say gives them a nuanced understanding of security in sensitive environments.
The change “is a reflection of the world we live in today …,” Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe said in an Oct. 30 letter to parents. “We appreciate your understanding and support, as we continue to provide the safest environments possible where our students can learn, grow and flourish.”
Monroe said parents and principals advocated for additional protections and that independent security assessments recommended the new precautions.
After a national search, the Diocese of Charlotte contracted with Praelio LLC, a security and risk management firm based in Virginia, to provide the additional security measures, which include:
- Experienced officers: Praelio employs veteran security personnel who are salaried, ensuring a consistent team dedicated to MACS campuses.
- Presence on campus: Supplemented by cameras and other technology, school security officers will circulate throughout MACS buildings and grounds on an irregular schedule, throughout the school day and before and after hours, in coordination with school leaders.
- Training and consultation: Officers will provide comprehensive training for faculty and staff in emergency medical, active shooter and de-escalation response.
- Emergency planning: Praelio will work with schools to review and enhance their emergency response plans.
“Our mission is to repurpose skills honed in the line of duty toward a far greater end – protecting those most vulnerable,” said Praelio co-founder David Long. “It is our great honor to be serving and defending the children, faculty and staff of the diocese’s Charlotte-area schools.”
The MACS security changes follow a recent security assessment of diocesan schools, conducted regularly across the system’s 20 schools. Schools outside the Charlotte area have individualized security plans tailored to their specific layout and needs, and are actively working with the Catholic Schools Office to ensure they have best practices in place.
After a 2018 systemwide assessment, many schools redesigned their lobbies (with controlled access, card readers, intercoms and wide-angle views), added security cameras, and upgraded alarm systems. They also increased safety drills and improved emergency response communications systems.
“Our new security officers will work to become part of our school communities so people know and trust them enough to share concerns and form relationships,” Monroe said.
“We’re taking a holistic approach to security so that we’re following best practices and at the same time nurturing that welcoming environment we’ve always had on our campuses.”
— Catholic News Herald