Please answer: Is your child's preschool secure? Do the doors of all church PreK programs remain unlocked?

Question

I finally found a preschool that I like for my 4 year old to start next fall. It's in a church, and there are three entrance doors that are UNLOCKED at all times. The preschool door is open as well.
I asked the teacher about security, and she didn't have anything to say, other than they've never had an incident.
I understand that it is a church, and the doors of a church typically remain open.
But, does this make anyone else uncomfortable? I am shocked that anyone could walk into the building at any time. There's not even a secretary that they have to walk past first.
Will I only find a more secure building if I enroll him at a preschool that is not in a church?
I posted a similar question a few weeks ago, and found that most other preschools were secure. But now I'm wondering if this is typical of a church program.
Please help! This is the deciding factor of whether I choose this school or continue my search.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Well both of my children attended pre-k and my oldest attended kindergaten in a public school and all of the doors there were always open. They never just had one door open by the office. You could enter any door you wanted anywhere on the campus and it was not a small school, also you had easier access to the playgrounds and such. my children are now in 1st and kindergaten in a private school out of a church and the classes are much smaller therefore at lunch and recess they have a better handle on the children. It is easier to account for them all. The doors are unlocked, but there are only two doors that lead to the school area, the public school had probably 30 or more doors throughout the school. Unfortunatly we can't keep our children locked away for ever and with the terrors that occur now days in schools is frightening, but we have to have faith that our children will be okay.

Answer 2

Most church programs will not have locked doors b/c there is other business going on in the church during the day like parishioners meeting with the pastor, staff working etc. Of course, mentally, a church should be the most secure b/c who would go in a do something in a church! But the reality is, these are unsure times and if locked doors is important to you then do not settle. My son goes to Montessori two half days and their doors are locked from the outside, each parent has a code to get in and there is a front desk and the principals office right there at the front. Security like this was very important to me too so I say keep looking, especially if you are going to be paying for it-get something that is worth all the money. Good luck!

Answer 3

My daughter went to a church preschool and the door leading to the classroom was unlocked. The other 2 were locked at all times (except Sundays). The classroom itself was in the basement and the door leading to it was in the back of the building. Anyone could have walked in, but it never happened. If your really uncomfortable with it choose a different preschool. I kept my daughter there because it was the best one in my city and the teacher was wonderful.

Answer 4

In all honesty, higher security measures don't really make much difference. I've worked in several daycares that have security systems where the parents have codes to put in to open the door and most of the time parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, pretty much anyone would buzz in and someone would open the door. All they'd say is it's Jack's cousin's uncle's friend..doesn't really matter, someone would open the door. I would say as long as they have a system in place where they check ID's to actually pick up or have contact with a child, it's just as efficient.

Answer 5

A church day care - preschool has distinctive regulations than a private owned one because of the fact they are no longer getting the comparable investment from the state that others do. it rather is accepted of a church college to have doorways stay unlocked even nevertheless it fairly is not accepted for them to no longer have a minimum of somebody you may desire to analyze in with with the intention to bypass get your new child...this could be a protection problem that i could handle in the previous I enrolled my youngster. it could be that they are understaffed or it could be that the secretary replaced into called away to help out in yet another room. maximum inner maximum centers have bypass keys for his or her front doorways yet those are a greater high priced facility.

Answer 6

my daughter goes to a church for the preschool program, but the only door that is unlocked is infront of the secretary! they also have a security guard that drives around the building, and you have to sign your child out. i don't j\have to show my id anymore b/c they recognize me, but my mom went to pick her up and had to show a driver's liscense and a call to me before she could take her. i like knowing that my child is safe. talk to other mothers about how they feel about their children going to that particular daycare

Answer 7

my daughters pre-school is on our base, at the school. the doors from the outside are locked from going in, but not coming out..so if parents want to visit they have to go from the front of the school after first checking in at the front office and signing in. then they can go to inside doors. makes me feel a lot safer knowing some crazy person can't just walk in anytime and get to the kids.

Answer 8

You have to remember that you have to leave doors opened for security reasons. I dont think that anything out of the normal will happen if you leave your child there. I mean there are always adults present and Im sure there is someone watching the surroundings.

Answer 9

My son's day care is secure, I wouldn't recommend sending your child to an unsecured location, it's too risky. I would definitely continue to look for a secure daycare center.