Cornwall Consolidated moves ahead with security upgrades

CORNWALL — Upgrades to security at Cornwall Consolidated School (CCS) continue, with proposals from security companies for panic buttons and additional cameras. A camera and buzz-in system at the main entrance were installed two years ago.Principal Michael Croft told the Board of Education Feb. 20 that the school safety team continues to rewrite plans. Like most schools, security and emergency response procedures at CCS have seen numerous changes since the Newtown school tragedy. Grant funds are being sought by the town to help with costs, according to Croft.A lock-down drill the week before went well, he said. “It wasn’t perfect, and we had subs [substitute teachers] in the building.We made a couple of adjustments to procedure.”Substitutes who may not be familiar with the school are a concern raised here and elsewhere. It has been one of the specific focuses of revamped security. Those specifics and more were spelled out to the board during an executive session at the end of the meeting.