Williston Security Tightens Up

Ann O’Conner, Director of Security, Jen Fulcher, Director of the Middle School, and Linda Kretchmar, Assistant to the Director of the Middle School.

Sophia Shaefer '18

Ann O’Conner, Director of Security, Jen Fulcher, Director of the Middle School, and Linda Kretchmar, Assistant to the Director of the Middle School.

The card swipe lock outside of the Middle School. The metal box is a camera and microphone, and the black box is where students can swipe their Sammy card.
Sophia Schaefer ’18
The card swipe lock outside of the Middle School. The metal box is a camera and microphone, and the black box is where students can swipe their Sammy card.

In past years, security at Williston has increased and changed, with new protocol, installments, and staff members.

Ms. Anne O’Conner, Director of Security, says, “Security on this campus, and on every other campus, is on a fast track forward.”

There have been many changes on campus, and the Security Department expects more to happen in the future.

According to Ms. O’Conner, the goal of security is to create “an environment where our students and our faculty and our staff can come here and be as safe as possible and have the environment to do their jobs, whether it be educating or being educated to the best of their ability and not have to worry about anything outside coming in.”

She describes the Security Team as a sheepdog, herding everyone together and keeping them safe.

The life of a Williston Security Officer is a busy one. “There is a lot to this job. These gentlemen do everything from transporting sick students to starting boilers at two o’clock in the morning…there’s a lot going on,” says Ms. O’Conner. When students are on campus, security operates 24/7, meaning there is always an officer available. Currently, there are eight highly trained officers: four full time and four part time.

The Security Department implements small and big changes on campus in hopes of making the buildings and people more secure.

The following are changes and procedures that Security has made in the past couple years.

 

No More Backdoors

In both the Chapel and Schoolhouse the back doors are now locked all the time. Ms. O’Conner notes, “We want everybody to use one door, to use a primary door when coming and going to the building, and that is just to make things a little more secure.”

 

Speakers

Another change is that there are speakers on the roof of the Reed Campus Center and at Galbraith Fields. These speakers can be used to broadcast and communicate with Williston students and the surrounding Easthampton community, should something come up.

 

Swipe Card Locks

In the Middle School there is now a swipe card lock that requires a Sammy Card, like in dorms, or students can be buzzed in by Ms. Kretchmar. The doors are locked the whole day, except for the ten minutes of passing time in between classes, and when students are arriving before 8:30. Ms. Jen Fulcher, Director of the Middle School, is positive about the change, and describes the locks as “a great addition for security.” Ms. O’Connor says more of this is to come, and that swipe card locks will start to be used more and more on campus.

 

Security Cameras

In the security office there is a new TV that records the Stu Bop area, focused on the pool tables. In the future, camera monitoring could be implemented in the Schoolhouse, and other major entrances on campus.

 

Lockdowns

Faculty and staff had a meeting on January 4th about lockdowns, and Massachusetts State Trooper James Carmichael spoke about protocol. The last lockdown was around three years ago, and Williston students can expect another one soon.

It takes time to implement these changes and developments, and Ms. O’Conner stresses the helpfulness of other groups on campus, like the Dean’s Office and Physical Plant. She says, “The school has been extremely supportive in letting the Security Department grow and foster the environment that we want to have here.”

Physical Plant made the swipe card lock installment in the Middle School, and Ms. Linda Kretchmar, Assistant to the Director of the Middle School, adds, “Physical plant, especially Paul Bricker has done so much to make this a huge success.”

Security is also influenced by other events happening around the world. Every private and public school is increasing security because of new danger and threats that have happened in the past couple years in other schools, like the Sandy Hook shooting and the more recent bomb threats in Los Angeles schools.

With all these new changes, different reactions can be expected.

With the swipe card lock in the Middle School, there has been a positive reaction, according to Ms. Fulcher. She commented, “The students at first kept forgetting their school IDs, and with any change there are some growing pains – but everyone has been doing great and adults and kids realize what a terrific addition it is!”

Parents of current and prospective students love the locks. Ms. Fulcher adds that “it confirms for [the parents] that security/safety is a priority at Williston.”

Ms. Kretchmar also thinks the locks are great. She likes to know who is in the building, and thinks everyone has fun using the buzzer and camera. She notes, “They [the students] are having so much fun ringing the bell and talking with me through the intercom so it has been fun. Ms. Fulcher loves talking into the intercom and pressing the buzzer too, so I think she forgets her key on purpose!”

Eighth Grader Lila Schaefer says that the Middle School has adjusted the system a little bit since when it was first implemented. “There was a ring tone whenever someone was trying to get buzzed in and it was super loud. You could hear it in the science room and the assembly room. I think they fixed it so it is quieter now.”

Schaefer adds, “I feel very safe in Williston already, but I know the locks are necessary to protect the students and the faculty. The students don’t really think much of it. We rarely swipe our cards because the doors are open in between classes or Ms. Kretchmar will let us in.”

Ms. O’Connor says that there might be negative reactions with all these new changes, but eventually “the students and faculty realize it is for their best interest, and so it is a little easier to change if you know it is for your best interest.” So far, everyone is mostly positive about security increasing.

Ms. O’Conner wraps up with, “Do I think cameras are coming? Absolutely. Do I think card swipes are coming? Absolutely. They’re coming, it’s just a matter of when.”

Security is quickly increasing, and is influenced by other events going on around the world. There will definitely be more changes in the future for Williston Security, the question is when.

 

The phone and camera that Ms. Fulcher and Ms. Kretchmar have in their office. This device allows them to see and talk to the person outside, and unlock the door.
Sophia Schaefer ’18
The phone and camera that Ms. Fulcher and Ms. Kretchmar have in their office. This device allows them to see and talk to the person outside, and unlock the door.