Warren Central High School security guards Trennis Gooden, left, and Polly Snow stop a motorist entering the school.(The Vicksburg Post?MELANIE DUNCAN

[9/19/01]It’s not in response to terror attacks, but visitors to public high schools during classes are being asked to sign in and their tag numbers are being noted.

“It only has to do with us knowing who is coming on campus and that they have legitimate business here,” said Don Taylor, principal at Vicksburg High.

By coincidence, the Baker Security employees beefed up their efforts at VHS last Tuesday, the day four planes were hijacked and used to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Keeping visitor logs started at Warren Central this week.

Superintendent of Education Donald Oakes said the policy was put into effect to ensure the safety of the students by knowing who is on campus.

Taylor said Vicksburg High School will use doors on the west side (Drummond and Lee streets) for entrance and exit. Anyone going to the Confederate Avenue doors will find them locked.

Unarmed private security officers have been employed by the school district for several years. Logging campus visits, however, is a step up from their past practice of keeping an eye on traffic and parking lots.

Oakes said allowing school administrators to know who’s on campus and why will be routine and no problems are expected.

“Someone with a real reason to be on the campus will have no trouble telling someone their name,” Oakes said. “I plan to ask the board Thursday to allow us to continue it.”

The superintendent said, however, there are no plans to expand the policy to the elementary, intermediate and junior high schools.

“We just don’t have the same problems there,” he said.