Walking down the hall, you may see someone standing outside the school, mouthing the words, “Let me in!” While it may seem harmless to let that person in, school rules prohibit students from opening the doors to anyone, even people they might know.

If you happen to be the one standing outside the school, you must enter through the main office using a new buzzer system. Why all the locked doors? The main goal of SHS is to promote the safety of all its members. If that means locking the doors so that strangers cannot get in, then that’s what the school will do (and has already done).

Superintendent John McCarthy has been working with administrators across the district to strengthen security measures at their schools. Building off of the plans of previous Superintendent Sue Martin, McCarthy issued the installation of video cameras and door locking systems in various schools, including SHS. Yet he made sure to clarify that “schools were never intended to be fortresses,” as stated in a recent article by Ruth Thompson, a columnist for WickedLocal.com.

Similarly, Principal Wargo believes that the high school should be a place where people feel safe and comfortable. “I hope it’s not intrusive… I want people to go to school every day without feeling like a big brother is watching them,” said Mr. Wargo, using the phrase “big brother” to describe the school’s new dome-shaped cameras.

According to the principal, security cameras at SHS are only used “after the fact.” If an incident occurs and the school needs to know what happened, such as who pulled the fire alarm, these security cameras can help identify the suspect. Although the school hopes to ensure a level of safety within the building without making people feel uncomfortable, some students can’t help but feel a little anxious at the sight of these cameras.

“It’s probably because I know that the school and police department can see what I’m doing,” said sophomore Maeve Dunn in regards to the new security cameras. Yet, some students are comforted by this technology, knowing that the school can keep an eye on who enters the building.

“I feel pretty safe… but in the back of my mind there’s always the fear of a school shooting,” said senior Noma Okundaye, expressing a relatively common view. Ever since the Sandy Hook shooting, people have grown increasingly wary of their safety at school. To ease people’s fears, SHS has accelerated its efforts to strengthen security by bringing in newer technology and outside funds.

There has always been a constant debate between personal liberty and security in schools. But when it comes to the students and teachers at SHS, safety takes precedence.