After much deliberation, Oxford’s board of education approved in a 5-1 vote Jan. 24 the purchase of security devices designed to barricade doors district-wide and keep dangerous intruders out.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Sam Barna, school officials were able to negotiate the price down from the previously reported cost of nearly $53,000 to just over $50,000 for the installation of 543 Nightlock security devices for the entire district.

During the discussion, Trustee Heather Shafer said she worried the barricades would not address the most critical safety concern, despite their hefty price tag.

“We all want our kids to be safe. I think the quality of these lock systems is great… I don’t know that that’s really addressing the problem of security,” Shafer said. “The (question) is, are our entryways secure? Once somebody with a destructive intention enters our building, it doesn’t matter what lock we have on the doors . . . I don’t think it’s just a lock system that we really need to think about. I think (there) might be a bigger picture.”

Superintendent Tim Throne responded by saying that district officials had come to the decision to introduce the devices as a result concerns expressed by parents and teachers within the district.

“You won’t be able to stop everything from happening,” Throne said. “(The) main goal should be to slow that person down, and we felt this was the best solution we could find . . . and while it may not be perfect and it may not stop someone . . . even if it slows them down or deters them for 60 seconds, every minute that we slow them down (brings the) benefit of saved lives for students and staff.”

Board President D’Alessandro expressed similar sentiments. “To me, as I teeter (on this decision), I think it goes to the point where, if we give our police liaison (officer) an extra 60-90 seconds to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B,’ I think that solves that problem,” D’Alessandro said. “You’re not going to stop someone that’s intent (on) getting into the building, but if you can minimize the damage that’s done… that’s what we need to do.”

Votes in favor of the devices were cast by D’Alessandro, Secretary Mark Stepek, Trustee Tom Donnelly, Vice-President Joyce Brasington and Treasurer Mike Schweig.

Trustee Heather Shafer cast the lone dissenting vote.

Trustee Jennifer Guthrie was absent from the meeting.

The cost will be included in the 2016-17 amended operating budget, Barna added, which will be presented at the next meeting on Feb. 7.

The door barricades are expected to be installed within the next few weeks, during non-school hours, according to Barna.