NLR school board votes on security upgrades

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - The North Little Rock School Board is making safety changes after an alleged rape last month on the North Little Rock High School campus.

North Little Rock High School does have some security cameras in place around campus, but the school board voted to add more, plus hire additional staff to improve safety and security.

North Little Rock High School has been on high alert since police charged 17-year-old Deundre Womack with raping another student on campus in September. After multiple community meetings, the school board is agreeing to implement new safety measures laid out by Steve Canady, the Safe Schools Coordinator. "I am proposing we hire at least 2 more campus supervisors to patrol halls and grounds on campus and conduct random metal scans in and around the school."

North Little Rock High has already created a school safety team made up of parents, students, and staff. Safety Committee Leader Andy Reed says, "Our intent is to be a positive, collaborative effort between the district and the board with identifying problems and adapting policy and developing solutions."

The school board granted permission for Canady to pursue roughly $200,000 in security upgrades. Board members agree that by adding more staff and security cameras, the safety and security of students and staff will greatly improve on campus.

Canady says safety meetings are on-going and he'll now be looking at developing options to come up with a time frame for installing additional security cameras. He expects to hire additional safety officers within a month, and hopes to have an update on how other new measures are progressing in December.