MEXICO – The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board decided Wednesday night to provide greater security for students and staff.

Director Brenda Gammon said doubling the size of the River Road school after a $4.9 million renovation and building addition project figured prominently in the decision.

“We want to look at ways to keep students and staff safe,” she said Thursday afternoon. “We want to tighten security.”

Proposed is installation of up to 16 surveillance cameras near doorways at exterior sites, stairwells, bays, and elsewhere in the two-story building.

Buzzers will be installed at entries that must be activated before someone is allowed into the building after regular hours.

While cameras and buzzers won’t be installed until bids come in a contract is awarded, added security will go into place almost immediately.

Gammon said someone will be hired part-time to staff the entry. That person will let people inside and direct them to their destination.

She said funds for the security measures are included in the building project, and from the adult and community education program.

Also on Wednesday, the board set 1 to 6 p.m., Jan. 8, as the school’s open house. Tours will be provided.

Residents of the 16 communities that send students to the vocational school are invited, as are staff and students.

If weather is miserable, the open house will be 1 to 6 p.m., Jan. 14.

In other matters, the board voted to seek bids on the modular classroom formerly used for instruction by the trucking driving program.

Because of a conflict with an area school board meeting, the next Region 9 meeting was set for Wednesday, Jan. 21. In the interim, the Finance Committee and the Program and Personnel Committee will meet Jan. 6 to begin work on the fiscal 2010 budget.