LUDLOW, Ky. — In just three weeks, students will return to the halls of Ludlow Independent Schools, to find new security measures implemented by the district.
"We're going to have a school counselor in each building," said Mike Borchers, superintendent of Ludlow Independent Schools. "Plus we have 8 days of mental health coundeling within our school."
As students walk through the main doors of the schools, there will be noticeable changes to the building too.
Glass doors that have been in place since the early 1990s will be replaced with a more solid frame, and the side windows will be blocked in. Through the halls, students will find that classroom doors will feature deadbolts and locks.
"We have double locks for each one of our classrooms," said Borchers.
Borchers said many of these changes to school security efforts are in response to requirements highlighted in Kentucky's Senate Bill 1. The bill requires schools in Kentucky to do everything from securing entryways to hiring counselors.
"24 years ago, I would not have imagined we'd be worrying about lockdowns and the security of our doors, keeping classroom doors locked -- that's a sad one for me," said Jenny McMillen, who has two sons in Ludlow High School.
Ludlow Schools will also be notifying all parents about the consequences of making threats on their school.
"It could be expulsion, it will be charges -- criminal charges -- which could be up to a felony," said Borchers.
The schools will be different from a visitors' standpoint too: for those walking in and out of the schools, a visitor ID will be required.
