City Schools has been working on improvements to enhance the security of the central office for staff, Board Commissioners, students, families, and our community. To support this work, the following security enhancements will be in place at the Board meeting on September 10, 2024, unless otherwise specified.
Controlled entry point - Starting at 4:15 p.m., entry into the headquarters building for staff and visitors will be limited to the main entrance on North Avenue. However, individuals requiring an accessible entrance may enter at the Guilford entrance. This restriction will remain in place until the end of Board meetings.
Entry to the Board Room begins at 5 p.m. - Board meeting attendees will wait in the lobby until entry to the Board room is permitted. Staff should refrain from coming down to the Board room until 5:25 p.m.
Staff seating - Seats will be reserved for a designee from each Central Office cabinet department and presenters. Other staff members are welcome and encouraged to join the meeting in the Board room though asked to return to their office to participate in the meeting virtually if the room is crowded and there is not sufficient space for members of the public.
Controlled exit point – At the conclusion of the Board meeting, staff and visitors may only exit via the North Avenue lobby.
Staff and visitors must remain seated - All individuals in the Board Room, except for School Police will need to be seated. Capacity in the Board Room is limited to the number of seats available.
Security screenings – All persons attending Board meetings will be required to pass through a weapons detection screening in the North Avenue lobby. Individuals requiring an accessible entrance may exit at the Guilford entrance.
Additional police on site—Five additional School Police staff members will attend the Board meeting on September 10. We will continue to assess the deployment levels necessary for Board meetings.
Use of video cameras/recording – Only individuals with media credentials may use tripods, professional video equipment, and audio recording equipment during the meeting. Credentialed media must check in with the Media Relations Manager and remain in the designated area during the meeting. Photos or videos captured by non-media members using cell phones from seats within the boardroom will still be permitted.
New public comment sign-up procedure
Starting with the Board meeting on September 24, the window for sign-up for public comment at Board Meetings will begin at 4:30 p.m. to reduce the amount of time people are waiting before meetings.