May 30, 2013 By Susan Schmeichel 2 min read

The Bethel Park School Board approved expenditures to upgrade security at the entrances of two of the district’s schools on May 28.

Doors will be replaced and new cameras and a card swipe system for employees will be installed at Washington Elementary School and Independence Middle School. The cost of the project, $31,208 for the elementary school and $118,975 for the middle school, is being financed out of the district’s capital improvement budget.

Matthew Howard, assistant to the superintendent and director of finance and operations, said the two projects are part of the district’s plan to upgrade security of the entrances at all of its schools.

The upgrades are being done as the district does regular maintenance to replace aging doors, he said.

Improvements have already been made at Memorial Elementary and Neil Armstrong Middle School. The new high school was built with the upgraded security systems.

“We want to make sure the door frames are secure and that we are happy with the locks,” Howard said.

School employees will be able to view visitors through the cameras and then buzz them into the buildings.

The card swipe system will allow employees to enter the building for work without office staff having to buzz them in, explained Howard.