EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Students at East Grand Rapids Public Schools heading to class Monday morning noticed new signs on the property about new security measures to protect them.
However, while the protocols have no impact on students, they could affect parents. EGRPS administrators say parents should give themselves a few extra minutes to get used to this new procedure in the district.
Starting on Monday, all visitors will be screened before entry. They must use the intercom in the secure vestibule to announce themselves and their purpose. Once verified, staff will unlock the door to the main office.
Signage on-site will guide visitors through the new process, which keeps the door to the main office locked during school hours.
This applies to all school buildings, including the Woodcliff Early Childhood Center.
In a letter sent to parents, district superintendent Heidi Kattula acknowledged the unusual timing of the change.
“We had planned to implement these new procedures at the start of this school year; however, supply chain and installation issues cause the project to experience delays,” she explained in the letter, verifying that no incident led to these security changes.