Safety a key feature in new Ten Sleep School design

Washakie County School District No. 2 Superintendent Annie Griffin assured that as the district transitions their students into a new school, safety is not only a priority but a key feature of the design of the school.

The list of safety features begins with the vestibules that will be present at both main entrances of the school. Griffin said, “Both the downstairs and upstairs entrances will be a buzz-in entrance, so someone will have to let you in once you’re inside the vestibule. The upstairs door will be manned by the administrative assistant and the downstairs door will be manned by the front office secretaries.” These vestibules will also feature bulletproof glass.

Students will only be entering the school from the front entrance during school hours. Currently, students travelling back and forth to the agriculture building use side entrances to get back into the school. This will not be the case with the new school.

Griffin also said that within the interior of the building there would be locking sections. Doors controlled by magnets will be remotely triggered to close and lock should the need arise.

With input from both former Washakie County Sheriff Steve Rakness and current Sheriff Austin Brookwell, the locations for security cameras in the school have been carefully selected. Griffin also said that staff are currently using the Emergent 3 application to communicate during emergencies, and will continue to do so at the new school.

She said, “I think those are all things that are going to make sure this building is safe and secure.”

Griffin also spoke about the school district’s rule regarding concealed carry employees which allows employees to concealed carry a firearm on school grounds as long as they are recognized as part of the program. She said that this has been a rule since September 2018, several years before she came to work at the school district.

She also said that there are currently no plans to make any changes to the rule, and it will be the same after the transition to the new school. Asked whether staff turnover has been an issue in maintaining concealed carry employees, Griffin responded, “What we can tell you is that our employees are able to do that and we do have employees in the program.”

She added, “The biggest thing is that we more than anything want this to be a safe learning environment where all of our students can be successful, where they’re comfortable, where they’re safe.”