Visitors to Ottumwa High School will notice a change in how they enter the building, starting January 20.
On Monday, students, parents, and visitors will no longer be able to walk in and out of the Fourth Street doors at OHS. A new security buzzer system has been installed. Doors will automatically lock at 8:25 a.m. and remain locked until 3:15 p.m. Throughout the day, people will have to be buzzed into the building after they show identification verifying who they are. Once parents or visitors are in the building, they will need to sign in at the welcome desk and then be escorted to their destination.
All Ottumwa schools now feature a secure entrance, either a feature of Ottumwa's newer schools or added to an entrance using a camera and buzzer system. All school entrances are locked during the instructional day. "We understand that this may be an inconvenience, but it is another step the district is taking to make sure our students are safe," said Richard Hutchinson, OHS principal.
