Our children’s safety is our utmost priority as parents and community members. Recently, I've been increasingly concerned about the ease with which strangers can access our school campus. It alarms me that visitors do not have to stop at the office before walking onto school grounds. The gates are often left open, which means there is unrestricted access that could potentially put our children in harm's way.

Across the nation, school safety is a growing concern. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 95% of schools lock or monitor doors during school hours. Unfortunately, our institution does not fall within this percentile. It’s imperative that we take proactive measures to ensure that our school is not an outlier when it comes to keeping our students safe.

We propose installing a buzzer system at the entrance gates of the school. This system would keep the gates locked and allow school staff to control who enters the premises through a secure video intercom system. This measure has been proven effective in increasing safety in numerous schools across the district and the United States. It's a straightforward and effective solution that does not require substantial structural changes. By implementing this change, we can make sure that all visitors must be buzzed in and properly checked by the office before gaining access to the school.

Please join us in calling upon Malcolm leadership and the school board to take immediate action and prioritize the safety of our children by signing this petition. Together, we can make our school a safer place for all students and give peace of mind to parents and educators alike.