The Easton, Redding, and Region 9 School District has put significant money toward school safety upgrades in the last couple of years to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Officials declined to share the details or how much the district has invested in the safety measures, but Michael D’Agostino, director of facilities and operations for ER9, said the district is making technology a focus in its security initiatives.
“The safety of our students and staff remains a top priority, and we are committed to evaluating and integrating new school safety technologies as they become available,” said D’Agostino.
Security upgrades at district schools are prioritized in ER9’s Strategic Priorities for 2026. Measures to enhance safety and operating safety procedures of all district buildings and teams include the hiring of a director of safety and security, establishing security staff at each building, installing security measures such as license plate readers and leading professional learning for the school administration and staff.
Officials declined to comment on which or if any of the measures have been implemented, but Jeff Parker, an Easton Board of Education member, said the town has invested “a significant amount of money in upgrading its security infrastructure over the past several years.
“This will continue to be a priority in the years to come,” said Parker. “As new school safety technology becomes available, the board will continue to evaluate and integrate it into our schools. The safety of our children and school staff is paramount.”
Steven Clapp, principal of Helen Keller Middle School, and Kimberly Fox Santora, principal of Samuel Staples Elementary School, both declined to comment, saying only that “security is the one topic that we cannot discuss with the public.”
