A Message From Principal Glenn

Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, City Schools of Decatur is taking significant steps to improve safety and security at Beacon Hill Middle School. Most prominently, BHMS will receive one additional school security associate (SSA), an on-site school resource officer via an agreement with the City of Decatur Police Department, a weapons detection system for students and visitors, and a new visitor management check-in process.

Introducing the New Safety and Security Staff

We have three additional safety & security associates: Sharrod Leverett, Nina King, and Jose Fikes. Sharrod and Nina will begin their days at DHS, and Jose at BHMS. All five SSAs will be increasingly visible throughout the district.

Please read this document carefully, as it contains the following:

• A detailed explanation of our entry procedures for students

• Building hours for students and visitors, including available entrances

• Expectations for maintaining a secure building during the day

• Consequences for violating the security procedures

Building Hours for Students and Visitors

Beginning this year, students may enter at 8:30 a.m. We recommend that students plan their arrival at BHMS no later than 8:30 a.m. to ensure they make it to class by 8:45 a.m. Students will only be considered on time if they are in class by 8:45 a.m. Security line delays will generally not be deemed excused tardies except in unusual circumstances. Still, school leaders will monitor line performance and consider allowances for the first few days of this new system.

Additional Times and Entry Points:

• Students may enter BHMS through the main entrance doors on College Avenue between 7:50 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. with a pass from a teacher.

• Students may enter BHMS through the bus loop door for breakfast beginning at 8:20 AM. After breakfast, students will be released from the cafeteria to go directly to their classrooms.

• Students may enter the building through the main entrance doors on College Avenue, the doors in the bus loop closest to the cafeteria, and the side doors on Kings Highway between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. as part of the normal morning entry routines. Any student not in class by 8:45 p.m. will require a tardy pass from the attendance office.

• After 8:50 a.m., all students must enter through the main entrance on College Avenue.

• Visitors may enter the building as early as 7:50 a.m., with a planned escort from the main entrance on College Avenue, or after 8:05 a.m. to check in and wait in the main office. Information about the visitor management system is available on the district website.

Building Entry Procedures for Students

When students enter the building, they will be greeted by trained CSD staff and walk through the weapons detection screening equipment. If there is a potential weapons alert from the screening system, students will first be asked to step back and re-enter the screener. Special accommodations will be made for students and guests with physical disabilities and equipment that may trigger the alarm. More information about the weapons detection system is available on the district website.

If there is a second alert, students will be asked to go through a secondary screening for a staff member to conduct an additional weapons search. It is important to note that the only trigger for an additional weapons screening will be an alert from the system. As part of normal school operations, staff will monitor for additional banned materials and appropriate student behavior.

Students should not enter BHMS with any banned materials, including, but not limited to, weapons, vapes, drugs, and alcohol. Students should review rules one (1) and two (2) in the code of conduct to familiarize themselves with all prohibited items on campus. Any banned materials found during security screenings will be subject to the school's code of conduct, regardless of whether they are considered weapons.

Additionally, all students must:

• Be careful not to bring self-defense items, including pepper spray and stun guns, as both are forbidden by policy, and the screen will likely detect them.

• Enter the building without headphones on, enabling them to hear instructions from staff.

• Enter the campus through one of these three doors: the College Avenue main entrance, the bus loop glass entrance, or the side doors on Kings Highway. No entry is allowed through side doors on Adams Street, front doors other than the main entrance, back doors, or any doors leading into the gymnasium.

College Avenue Main Entrance

Students should pass through the Evolv system with their Chromebooks either held above their heads or out in front of them, watching for cues from the staff member monitoring the entrance lane. Keys, phones and wallets can remain in their pockets. If the staff member motions for them to move to further screening, they should immediately move to the nearest screening table. If not, they may proceed into the building. At the screening table, a staff member will check their bag(s) and ask them to empty their pockets. Our goal is to ensure safety while enabling students to enter the building as smoothly as possible.

Bus Loop Glass Entrance & Kings Highway Doors

Students should pass through the Evolv system with their Chromebooks either held above their heads or out in front of them, watching for cues from the staff member monitoring the entrance lane. Keys, phones and wallets can remain in their pockets. If the staff member motions for them to move to further screening, they should immediately move to the nearest screening table. If not, they may proceed into the building. At the screening table, a staff member will check their bag(s) and ask them to empty their pockets. Our goal is to ensure safety while enabling students to enter the building as smoothly as possible.

• Handheld wands may be used during the secondary screening process if additional screening is required.
• Students who participate in extracurricular activities before and after school will receive communication from sponsors and coaches on building access.

Security Expectations and Consequences

Once students enter the secure perimeter of BHMS, they may not exit that perimeter and return without going back through security, meaning students who check out and back in and students who leave campus without permission must go back through the Evolv system at the College Avenue main entrance when they return to campus. During the first week of school, BHMS will provide more information about defining the secure perimeter.

Students can help us maintain a safe campus by meeting the following expectations regarding moving around campus:

Students must NEVER…

• Enter Beacon Hill Middle School through unauthorized doors
• Leave campus without permission
• Prop open exterior doors and gates
• Open exterior doors for other students
• Open exterior gates
• Have food delivered to campus
• Leave campus to purchase food
• Bring weapons, drugs, alcohol, or other banned materials to campus
• Open exterior doors for visitors and unknown adults

Students must ALWAYS…

Book bag Requirements

Students may carry a bookbag of their choice to and from school. All bookbags will be stored in lockers during the school day.

Consequences for Unsafe Behavior

Students who engage in unsafe behaviors will be held accountable according to the code of conduct. No warnings will be issued for unsafe behaviors, as we have clearly communicated such behaviors in this document, and we will continue to do so in our opening week lessons. The minimum consequence for unsafe entry into BHMS, propping a door open, leaving campus without permission, or opening a door/gate for another student will be an administrative detention.