NEWPORT, Ky. -- The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which claimed 17 lives on Valentine's Day, produced a national aftershock powerful enough to knock down walls all the way in Newport Independent Schools -- and then build them back up again with stricter security.
Construction greeted visitors to Newport schools throughout the summer. Students arriving for their first day of classes will find newly separated entrances: One for them and one for visitors, who will be directed into a "vestibule" so staff can verify their identities before they walk into the school proper.
"From our standpoint, we want our community to know that our first priority is the safety of their children and our staff as well," said Tim Grayson, the district's director of facilities and transportation.
The district also now sports over 100 new security cameras to ensure there are eyes on every hallway in case of emergency.
"It gives us better coverage, both inside and outside of all of our doors," Grayson said.
