Visitor background checks required at Mason High School

MASON, Ohio - Mason City Schools began a review of its safety protocols after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

The review resulted in a series of new security measures. On Monday, Mason High School launched a pilot program that requires visitors to provide a valid ID for the purposes of a background check.

"If it comes up with an alert then I contact one of the assistant principles to assist me in denying access to the visitor," school receptionist Phyllis Burpo said.

The spokeswoman for Mason City Schools, Tracey Carson, told 9 On Your Side that if the pilot program is deemed successful it will likely be placed in the other four schools in the Mason district.

The district is also discussing ways to make entry ways more secure.

"Depending on the building we have the ability to have more of a secure access point versus a more open structure," Carson said. "But, of course, that's going to be a farther out kind of decision."

9 On Your Side spoke with parents and family members of Mason students. The group seemed supportive of any move to increase security at the school.

"You just don't know (what can happen) people, kids, you have no idea. So any improvements that they can do for safety of the child, I'm all for that," said Lisa Sanderson, grandparent of a Mason student.

"We're trusting the schools to keep our children safe and so the more that they can do to make it safer when we drop them off the better," said Shirley Kratzer who is the mother of a Mason student.

School officials tell 9 On Your Side that safety meetings will continue to be held in the coming weeks and months and that other new safety procedures may be implemented as a result.