You may have noticed some new locks on classroom doors at southeast. the district has been working to increase safety across school buildings with a new door-lock system.

“Every one of our locks at the middle school and high school level in USD 259 will be able to be locked from inside the classroom virtually with the same key,” USD 259 safety services director Terri Moses said. “We chose to go with the term red keys because it’s easy to say.”

This change was designed to make emergency lockdowns safer.

“In our older buildings the door frames weren’t as sturdy and putting a quality lock on a non-quality door does not make any sense… the person isn’t going to break the deadbolt, but it would be pretty easy to go through the door. One of our main goals of the district, if you don’t know, is to increase safety and belonging for everybody,” Moses said.

Now, teachers can secure any classroom without leaving students behind.

“Having that red key lets me protect not just my own students, but others as well,” business teacher Michael Sen said.

“We’re able to lock it from the inside without having to open the door,” social studies teacher Karen Burns said.

Teachers say the change adds reassurance in the classroom.

“I think it’s a good step toward our safety and keeping everything more under control,” Burns said.

“Any time we’re doing something that secures schools and shows they continue to be a safe environment, it’s always a great procedure,” Business teacher Kinsey Colclasure said.