Principals help ramp up security

AUSTIN (KXAN) - No matter how close or far you are from Newtown, Connecticut, school security has been at the forefront of teachers and parents' minds since Friday.

"I think we're all more aware of it, but we cannot protect everybody 24/7," said Leslie Stratton, who has two step children in the Eanes school district.

The Austin police department did not waste any time assigning officers to sit outside campuses at the beginning and end of the school day -- an added presence until Christmas break.

Central Texas principals have sent out countless emails trying to assure parents their children are in good hands and are letting them them know safety procedures are being reviewed.

One principal in the Eanes school district said he has already met with parents and received "several good ideas" on ways to tighten security which they are "already acting on." For safety reasons, KXAN News is not going into detail about the ideas.

In the Lake Travis School District, another principal told parents building renovations are underway that will increase campus security. The work was planned well before the shooting in Connecticut.

It will bring changes to the way visitors get into the school. They will no longer be able to walk in the front doors and down the hallways. An extra barrier of locked double doors will be added inside forcing visitors straight into to front office to check-in.

"No one should just be walking into these schools without a visitors pass," said Stratton.

The extra safeguard is already in place at her stepson's school. She also has faith in the training and drills they practice on a regular basis, but knows not everyone with bad intentions can be stopped.

 "You can never be fool proof," said Stratton.