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The Omaha Public Schools Board will consider providing Omaha Police with keycard building access for emergencies. The district said the safety measure is all about protecting students and staff. OPS said giving OPD more access to schools has been a topic of discussion for about a year. While it took them a while to create a formal agreement, the district said it strongly believes in prioritizing safety. The agreement would give OPD officers universal keycards to all OPS buildings and officers would be allowed to immediately enter buildings during an active shooter situation, help an officer call or if an officer believes there is an immediate threat of violence. Chief Officer of Student and Community Services Lisa Utterback said minutes can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. “When we know better we do better,” Utterback said. “When incidents happen around the country it allows us and other school districts to work collaboratively with our local law enforcement who are the first responder experts to say how can we enhance our practices.”Right now, officers must go through the main office and be granted access in an emergency. Utterback said while school employees stand by to let officers in, keycards would allow immediate access. It takes about 10 seconds on average to get through both keycard access doors.Utterback said she fully expects the school board to approve the agreement at Monday night’s meeting. She believes giving police more access will help provide more peace of mind when it comes to safety in schools. “I feel that our staff and our families will be very pleased with this next step,” Utterback said. “That when and if there’s an emergency or crisis response situation that law enforcement who are trained national experts will be able to cut off minutes to get in there and minimize the situation.”She said OPS is working with Omaha Police and the City of Omaha to provide keycards to officers by Aug. 1. OPD declined to comment on the agreement until a vote takes place. City officials expect to be briefed on the agreement Tuesday.Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
The Omaha Public Schools Board will consider providing Omaha Police with keycard building access for emergencies. The district said the safety measure is all about protecting students and staff.
OPS said giving OPD more access to schools has been a topic of discussion for about a year. While it took them a while to create a formal agreement, the district said it strongly believes in prioritizing safety.
The agreement would give OPD officers universal keycards to all OPS buildings and officers would be allowed to immediately enter buildings during an active shooter situation, help an officer call or if an officer believes there is an immediate threat of violence.
Chief Officer of Student and Community Services Lisa Utterback said minutes can be the difference between life and death in an emergency.
“When we know better we do better,” Utterback said. “When incidents happen around the country it allows us and other school districts to work collaboratively with our local law enforcement who are the first responder experts to say how can we enhance our practices.”
Right now, officers must go through the main office and be granted access in an emergency. Utterback said while school employees stand by to let officers in, keycards would allow immediate access.
It takes about 10 seconds on average to get through both keycard access doors.
Utterback said she fully expects the school board to approve the agreement at Monday night’s meeting.
She believes giving police more access will help provide more peace of mind when it comes to safety in schools.
“I feel that our staff and our families will be very pleased with this next step,” Utterback said. “That when and if there’s an emergency or crisis response situation that law enforcement who are trained national experts will be able to cut off minutes to get in there and minimize the situation.”
She said OPS is working with Omaha Police and the City of Omaha to provide keycards to officers by Aug. 1.
OPD declined to comment on the agreement until a vote takes place. City officials expect to be briefed on the agreement Tuesday.
Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
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