Tahoma School District will be returning students to school with UNLOCKED entrances and UNLOCKED portables. We urge the Tahoma School District to ACT NOW and to address the following safety and security vulnerabilities and enact the following physical safety measures that provide a basic yet vital layer of security by offering both preventative and protective measures for ALL children, staff, and teachers:

1. LOCK THE FRONT ENTRANCES. Install BUZZ IN LOCKED ENTRY at all elementary and middle schools. Currently, elementary and middle schools have unlocked front entrances. Only the high school has buzz in locked entry, although no policy/procedure is in place to require the use of this safety feature.
2. LOCK THE PORTABLE DOORS. Install KEY PAD CARD ENTRY that will be a deterrent to keep out harmful intruders, while allowing a safe way for students and staff to enter/re-enter the portables throughout the day. Currently, no policy requires portable doors be locked, and many will/could be UNLOCKED throughout the entire school day.
3. CREATE POLICY REQUIRING ALL EXTERIOR AND PORTABLE DOORS BE LOCKED DURING SCHOOL HOURS. Currently, no such policy exists in Tahoma School District. The use of the high school buzz in locked entry security feature is at the discretion of the principal. Creating policy, along with being compliant to it, is a necessary safeguard in consistent school campus security.

We welcome the support of parents, grandparents, guardians, students (must be 16 yrs or older for this platform), neighbors, taxpayers, community members, stakeholders, district staff, etc. Please sign this petition to provide a more secure and safe environment our children, teachers, staff, and community deserve. Please help spread the word and share. Thank you!