The Talawanda Board of Education voted to allot $30,000 toward new security measures at Bogan Elementary, including a new intercom and key systems, at its regular meeting Feb. 8.

“Although it is expensive, I believe it is the next step,” superintendent Ed Threaux told the board. “These new features will not last forever, but it is essential that we stay on top of it and continue to update our security features as needed.” 

The current system requires visitors and employees to phone into the front office where secretaries must look at the doors, confirm the visitor and manually open the door for entry. 

With the new system, Bogan staff will be able to communicate with people outside the entry via an intercom system equipped with camera and sound and press a button from inside the office to remotely open the door. 

“The camera will be connected to our current security system and allow staff to see any commotion going outside of the main entry, so it is a safety and security measure that Bogan has never had,” Theroux said.

Additionally, at the meeting, principal Scott Davie presented a report about the high school.

According to Davie, there has been a reduction in disciplinary incidents by over a quarter from the previous academic year. However, THS has seen a rise in THC and nicotine vaping. 

He said that the Monroe school district installed THC and tobacco vapor detecting sensors in 2019, and suggested that Talawanda might follow suit. 

“We are tasked with looking into ways to combat this issue,” Davie said. “So we looked at neighboring school districts who are using surveillance and vape detection devices with good success, but this would be a large capital project.”

Additionally, Davie said that the school is experiencing “the highest daily attendance rate” that the school has seen in years, with 95 percent attendance. 

“I know there was concern about what might happen without high school busing, but the THS student families have done an excellent job getting their kids to school,” he said.