Reply To: 03/27/25 Meeting

[Antonia Moore]

Physical Safety in the Classroom
Matt Baker, PE teacher at Granger, also an ALICE trainer

A lot of challenges at Granger with the different style doors they have, and doors that open in different ways, fit or not fit, etc. “It would be nice to have a set of doors that is simple and safe and locked.”

Shared images of the exit doors by the bus loop, and gymnasium doors that can’t be locked…no key for those doors, so only way to secure them is by a fire hose. Students have had tried to exit from those doors…is a blind spot without a camera

Grades 2 and up ask him questions, “What do we do if we are in the bathroom or the hallway in an active shooter situation?”
Girls restroom picture was shared as well. Students are told to kick the door shut and use a door wedge. Girl’s bathroom on the second floor has a 6.5″ gap on the bottom of the door, and door can’t be wedged shut, and the door has no handle to secure it, either. It’s a door that simply cannot be secured.

Next set of pictures: Highlights a challenge in the building of doors that don’t lock – secured through a magnet. The way to turn the magnet on is a light switch. When light switch is up, connect magnet, if flipped down, is released.

Indecent in a drill: When privacy shade rolled down, door is automatically closing, magnet didn’t actually connect because a fraction of an inch of not being flush will make it malfunction. If doors were lockable, could have used key.

We do drills to see what needs to be fixed.

Attorney from District Table wants to know who this was reported to:
Matt answered: Principal
Agawam Police Department
District Safety Officer