Pattonville High School Principal Talks About New Security Protocols

For Pattonville High School Principal Joe Dobrinic, so far so good when it comes to new security procedures in place as of the second semester.

As Patch previously reported, high school students are now required to wear the ID badges they already have, as a way for staff to identify who should be in the building. Last month, the district announced the requirement after a former student was arrested while roaming the halls. The incident happened prior to the December Newtown, CT shooting which drew nationwide attention to the issue of school security.

In addition to the badges, there are increased police procedures on campus. A Maryland Heights Police officer outside the building will verbally question a visitor's reason for being on campus. Another officer who checks visitors in at the front desk will also be making sure that visitors go where they say they're going.

Dobrinic says he's "extremely thankful to the Maryland Heights Police Department for their support, and that his staff has done a "great job of supervision" when it comes to passing times between classes, and making sure all exterior doors besides the main entrance are locked during the day.

He said the students, who had their first day back in class Thursday, aren't complaining about the new procedures. "They understand the reason why," Dobrinic said.