A construction project renovating the main front entrance of Seymour High School to improve safety and security will get underway this summer.
The project will cost $62,770.11 and add an additional set of interior doors to limit access to hallways and create a new visitor reception area in student services.
The way the entrance is configured now, visitors can walk through the main door and have direct access to the building without having to go into the main office to check in first.
“I’ve talked to several people in the community, and they are very pleased we are doing this,” said Art Juergens, president of the Seymour Community School Corp. board of trustees.
There hasn’t been a specific incident that has happened at the school to require the change. It’s just a different environment and needs than when the school was built, said School Resource Officer Keith Williams.
An existing window that looks into student services will be removed, and a new door and transaction window will replace it.
All new doors will be made of solid core oak instead of aluminum and feature bullet-resistant glass panels that allow people inside the school to see out but prevent people on the other side from looking in.
After obtaining three quotes for the work, the board of trustees awarded the construction project to William J. Abraham and Sons Inc. of Seymour at a cost of $46,864. Other quotes were received from Goecker Construction Inc. in Seymour ($53,350) and Dunlap General and Mechanical Contractors in Columbus ($54,800).
Additional costs of $9,558.11 will cover security cameras, electronic card access and internal door access control provided by Dallmann Systems Inc. of Jeffersonville, and $6,348 will pay for new furniture in the reception area, which will be provided by Educational Furniture of Muncie.
As part of the new visitor waiting area, there will be a counter with Chromebooks set up for students and parents to use for registration and other needs.
The project is expected to be finished in time for the beginning of the 2017-18 school year in August.