School Board Increases Security, Appoints New Board
By: Katie Shane
Updated: January 11, 2011
Security has been increased in Vigo County after a shooting at a school board in Florida.
Monday night was the first meeting since a metal detector was installed outside the board meeting room.
People also saw additional sheriff's deputies in attendance.
Vigo County Superintendent Danny Tanoos explained the corporation has had the metal detector for five years.
After Florida's school board shooting Tanoos says the corporation's safety team met to discuss a new security plan.
"You can never be prepared for the unexpected and some of those things are so off the wall and far from your ray of thinking that you can't plan for those but we are going to do the best we can," he said.
It is recommended to arrive early to future school board meeting to allow time to go through the metal detector.
Once inside Monday's meeting new board members were sworn in for 2011.
Board member Alpa Patel was elected to be this year's board president.
Tom Thomas was nominated as board vice president.
Newcomer Tammy Pearson is the board's new secretary.
And new board member Patrick Sheehan will serve as the board deputy secretary.
During the meeting the board approved the purchase of the former Booker T. Washington high school.
The building will be bought for $80,000 by Terre Haute's Light House Mission.
The mission's Conners Center for Women and Children will be relocated to the building.
The purchase process is expected to take 30 days.
Monday night was the first meeting since a metal detector was installed outside the board meeting room.
People also saw additional sheriff's deputies in attendance.
Vigo County Superintendent Danny Tanoos explained the corporation has had the metal detector for five years.
After Florida's school board shooting Tanoos says the corporation's safety team met to discuss a new security plan.
"You can never be prepared for the unexpected and some of those things are so off the wall and far from your ray of thinking that you can't plan for those but we are going to do the best we can," he said.
It is recommended to arrive early to future school board meeting to allow time to go through the metal detector.
Once inside Monday's meeting new board members were sworn in for 2011.
Board member Alpa Patel was elected to be this year's board president.
Tom Thomas was nominated as board vice president.
Newcomer Tammy Pearson is the board's new secretary.
And new board member Patrick Sheehan will serve as the board deputy secretary.
During the meeting the board approved the purchase of the former Booker T. Washington high school.
The building will be bought for $80,000 by Terre Haute's Light House Mission.
The mission's Conners Center for Women and Children will be relocated to the building.
The purchase process is expected to take 30 days.
