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CMS Security Plan Gets Support From County Commission

CMS plans to add video surveillance focused on mobile classrooms like these.
WFAE
Trailers at David Cox Elementary School in north Charlotte.

CMS has been installing new digital video surveillance systems, additional door locks and some fencing around several schools. It’s part of the first phase of a security plan CMS Superintendent Clayton Wilcox laid out to county commissioners last night.

Wilcox said the plan includes adding more video surveillance focused on mobile classrooms and panic card alarm systems, which would alert first responders. 

Here’s a rundown of CMS’s plan:

CMS Security Plan presented to Mecklenburg County Commissioners 10/16/18

The plan’s total cost is $9 million.  This summer, commissioners set that money aside for security upgrades, but decided to hold half in reserve until plans were finalized. Last night, they voted to release the second half of that money. 

According to CMS, additional security and door locks have been installed at eight schools and some fencing at three schools so far. The district plans to equip charlotte East Language Academy with the full array of security equipment as a pilot. That system would integrate cameras, audio and alert-card alarms.