Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

BISBEE, Ariz. - Some rural schools are re-evaluating their safety and security measures in the wake of the shootings of a Connecticut elementary.

Down a windy road, tucked away in the hills of Bisbee, you'll find Jim Phillips, the superintendent of schools, reading to a first grade class at Greenway Elementary.

The kids listen closely as Phillips alters his voice to the characters, reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

This is just a snapshot of a communy that, Phillips said, is very tight knit.

Greenway has a rich history as it was built in 1917 sporting an open courtyard between the buildings added over time.

"The older schools are all open campuses, I think it was a sign of the times, especially architecturally," Phillips told News 4 Tucson.

That's exactly where new safety concerns lie as the tragedy that happened in Connecticut shines a spotlight on safety and security issues.

"You immediately stop and you take away from what was happening in Connecticut and you bring it home," Phillps said, reflecting on when he heard what had happened last week.

The shooting was an eye-opened for Greenway's principal, David Gauch.

"Waking up in the middle of the night, going okay I got to do this," Gauch said.

Bisbee School District has re-evaluated Greenway in addition to the rest of the schools in town. They have established plans to relocated the front office at Greenway, put up additional fencing and team up with the Bisbee Police Department.

"They're patrolling the front of the school and they come by just kind of randomly," Gauch told News 4 Tucson. " Just to make sure things are safe."

Administrators at Bisbee Schools tell News 4 Tucson that they will continue to improve the safety and security measures at Bisbee Schools because they value that the community them in their mission to provide a safe place to educate children.