On the way to Oxford, I contemplated the reasoning behind my next assignment. As a parent, safety is a top priority in my life. I keep my kids safe at home and want to be ensured their safety was being accounted for in their daily routines elsewhere. I knew what I was supposed to do, the only part of the assignment that was troubling was trying to figure out how this was going to be interpreted by various school districts.

The assignment was to check school accessibility and security measures.

Providing security regarding unwanted intruders intending to do harm to the students helplessly inside is a concern for every district.

I walked to the elementary side of the building. I saw a few doors obvious to the eye and went to them. I tried some doors and was satisfied they were securely locked. Walking to the high school side of the building, I felt relieved the first two doors were locked, because if I had gotten in, I would have to tell administrators I had just broken through their security measures. Now I was a little more confident. After checking three more high school doors, I went to the main entrance and was buzzed in. The principal directed me to the superintendent, where I explained the purpose of my visit. We sat and talked about how the district prepares for emergencies, intruders, regular visitors and protocols for various situations.