Pontiac security meeting rescheduled

Friday, August 31, 2007 9:26 AM CDT

By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com

PONTIAC -- A security meeting at Pontiac Township High School has been rescheduled for early next week because of conflicting schedules, Superintendent Leo Johnson said.

The meeting had been planned for today to talk about information shared during three meetings Wednesday that followed a guns-for-drugs incident at the high school Tuesday.

Principal Jon Kilgore said he has been meeting with school officials in “mini” safety meetings regarding any immediate precautions. The rescheduled meeting, which will be closed to the public, is for school officials to study items that can be added and considered for a future handbook.

“Right now we are having informal ones (meetings) when everyone’s schedule is free and able to get together,” Kilgore said. “These are for immediate safety changes and these meetings are already taking place.”

Kilgore said the assemblies Wednesday were an excellent opportunity to hear concerns of parents and community members and those concerns will be studied.

Long-term safety changes could include the continued use of metal detectors, either hand-held or permanent, or a key card system to allow entry through exterior doors.

Kilgore wasn't sure how long the metal detectors would be used because they are on loan, but he said the school will probably purchase them.