BY ARIELLE KRAUS
As public safety becomes a greater concern in society, many individuals have varying opinions on the topic. Whether it is increasing security staff, practicing more drills or implementing metal detectors, CCHS students have many different solutions as to how to keep their school safe. They were asked the question, “what would make you feel safer at school and why?” Here are their responses:
Chloe Sierra, senior
“We have done fire drills passing through classes, but we have never done one at the end of the school day. When you are leaving, there is a big crowd, everyone is scattered everywhere and everyone just wants to get home, but we need to practice drills [at the] end of the day. A lot of schools have metal detectors. Anyone can walk in with something, and we have regulations and security, but it is not stopping anyone from bringing anything to school.”
Nikolas Egelston, junior
“More security guards [would make me feel safer at school] because they enforce being safe. [This can happen] by hiring better-trained security guards. The security guards we have now are amazing, but I think we need more, not just like five or six. We need more security guards walking through the hallways and standing near the bathrooms.”
Janessa Nunez, sophomore
“I think we need more security. More security would probably allow the hallways and the bathrooms to not be so crowded. [They could be at] the entrance, that way there is not so much clutter.”
Emanuelle Menendez, freshman
“I would feel safer at school if there could be specific programs that certain kids could join and find a way that we could all work together to solve the problems at school. I would be [interested] in a student-involved security [program]. We can ask the officers [on campus] if they would like to be involved in those programs with us.”
Piper Breslin, junior
“[CCHS has] lock-in gates. Keeping track of which gate is open when and for how long gets really confusing. If something were to happen, it would be really hard for anyone to get out and that doesn’t make me feel safe. [The gates] are not keeping anyone from getting in– people can still get in– but getting out is going to be way harder because if you have an actual emergency and are confused, it would be really hard to get out.”
Aiden Braisted, junior
“In some areas, we need more covering from rain because when it does rain, we have to find these awkward ways to go around the school and we’re always late. I don’t know if we need metal detectors because we do have a lot of really good security right now.”
Jaaden Newell, junior
“I feel safe at school already. [I would feel safer] if everybody got a personal body guard because [then] nobody ever is going to have a problem.”
CCHS students’ school safety suggestions included increasing security, adding more covering, implementing safety-related programs, keeping track of the gates and practicing safety drills after school. As safety is a top concern for many students, hearing student opinions will allow CCHS to come up with new regulations, programs and procedures regarding the safety of the school.
Photos by Arielle Kraus and The Lariat Photography
