ST. LOUIS — Three months after the fatal shooting at Central Visual and Perform Arts (CVPA) high school, students and staff will be greeted with some new security updates when they return to the building for in-person learning on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
On Oct. 24, police say a former CVPA student entered the school and killed a 61-year-old teacher, and a 15-year-old student, and injured others.
The Collegiate School of Medicine and Biosciences (CSMB), which shares a campus with CVPA, went back in person Nov. 28. CVPA students have been virtually learning in the weeks following the shooting.
While they released no details on how the suspect got into the building, CVPA received several security upgrades since the October shooting. Most of the safety and security upgrades were already planned before the shooting as part of the district’s Prop S bond issue that was passed in August, according to George Sells, director of communications for St. Louis Public Schools.
Security updates include but are not limited to:
Eight security officers will be onsite and some will be armed
Mobile units and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police will be visible in their patrol of the school and neighborhood
More than 160 interior doors were replaced and there are plans to replace exterior doors which are on backorder
Additional cameras throughout the campus were installed
Exterior doors will continue to be equipped to alarm for exits or intrusions
Window replacements have been completed
Additionally, a real-time notification system that alerts officials to any 911 calls in the vicinity of SLPS schools was approved by the school board, according to Sells.
The 911RTA subscription service is a partnership with the Regional Justice Information System (REJIS) and SirenGPS, Inc., which enables SLPS officials to take immediate safety and security precautions as needed.
Modified intruder drills will be held in conjunction with staff from the Office of Student Services who will advise SLPS officials on trauma and triggers.
Training will be re-instituted later this month “because training is what helped us on Oct. 24. We must make sure all of our systems are working,” Sells said.
“Nearly all of the systems these upgrades will support were already in place on Oct.24th. We are making these changes because we must always look for ways, equipment, and products, to help us maintain safe and healthy school environments.”
When it comes to addressing security issues at other schools, Sells said the district will discuss that as it determines projects for the rest of the Prop S money.
