Peru Mayor supports increased school security

PERU, Ind. (WISH) - The Mayor of Peru, Ind. announced his support to place armed guards in the city's five schools.  It's the latest endorsement to boost school security in Indiana since December’s Sandy Hook shootings in Connecticut.

Peru Community Schools Superintendent Chuck Brimbury is looking for ways to fund the school resource officer positions. He says the school system currently does not have the money to do it.

School security experts say hiring armed guards is only one piece of the security puzzle.

“If I had my way I would put a school resource officer in every school building in America.  It's probably just not going to happen” said Paul Timm, President of Reta Security.

Timm held a security workshop Tuesday for school administrators and staff. 

“We are telling them to make it a comprehensive approach. Not just physical security but violence prevention, bullying prevention, staff training, emergency preparedness.  A comprehensive approach” said Timm.

Wayne Township Schools has a full time security team and a comprehensive security plan.  The District sent representatives to the security workshop to look for more ways to minimize security risks.

“We have a district wide team that looks at emergency preparedness. We do drills with our students. We involve people at all levels within our district to make sure they know what to do in the event of any kind of emergency” said spokesperson Mary Lang.

Timm says better school security requires communication between all stakeholders: teachers, students, parents, and law enforcement.

“Everybody has a stake in this. Let's raise awareness and be on the same page” said Timm.

CSO Architects, an Indianapolis based architecture firm, sponsored the workshop.

The company says it also has a stake in school security.  As an architect of school buildings, the company designs new schools with security layout features in mind.