Security Update, Fall 2024

Chelsy Beninate began her role as Assistant Head of School for Operations and Security last school year. Her projects are many, and her work is constant as we maintain our commitment to regular and systematic improvements in our practices, services and facilities. 

The highlights of the improvements we have instituted or installed to start the 2024-25 school year include: 

• A significant new fence separates our remote parking area on the east side of campus, behind a berm, from the 23-acre unguarded hill property. (While it would be hard not to notice that fence in its current bright and shiny silver state, know that we look forward to hanging an earthy-colored screen on it, and we will be eager for foliage we had to cut back to grow back between the parking lot and the fence. Our goal is to soften the visual impact of the fence by blending it more harmoniously with the surroundings.)
• Two FWCD Security vehicles (thank you, PFA 23-24!) to position at gates during carpools and around campus at other times to, first, deter unwanted visitors and, second, pursue intruders if necessary;
• Cybersecurity enhancements from Dr. Steve Uhr, Director of Technology, and his team;
• Security personnel assigned to be present at entrance gates to physically observe drivers and the vehicles, including some single-lane restrictions at times that will delay entry as we prioritize safety over speed; and
• An enhanced vehicle registration to prepare for the installation of license plate reader technology in 2025.

We will never be able to call our security and safety enhancements finished, of course, but these adjustments and enhancements continue our commitment to always improving. Please read here for my notes on previous security updates.