Trinity approves purchase of alarms for elementary schools
Trinity South Elementary School
A stretch of Lone Pine Road near Trinity South Elementary School
Trinity Area School Board last week unanimously approved purchasing alarms for exit doors at all four of the school district’s elementary schools, two days after a kindergartner at Trinity South walked out of the school undetected.
The boy, Ethan Bedillion, 6, had walked about 1½ miles away from the school before motorists notified the principal.
According to Ethan’s mother, Kayleigh Thomas, he left the lunchroom and stopped by his classroom, where he told a substitute teacher he had an early dismissal. He then walked out the front door shortly before 11:30 a.m.
Thomas said a motorist drove behind Ethan with his hazard lights on while Ethan walked along Lone Pine Road, and a neighbor driving by called the school.
A Trinity elementary school principal picked up Ethan on Lone Pine Road and returned him to the school.
Thomas said she estimates Ethan was gone for more than an hour.
“We’re just lucky that a couple of people who drove by recognized Ethan, and we’re lucky that nobody picked him up or hit him,” Thomas said. “Our biggest concern is making sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Thomas and her husband met with administrators Thursday, and Superintendent Dr. Michael Lucas showed them the proposal for the door alarms and discussed other strategies to ensure students cannot leave the building or school grounds unaccompanied.
Lucas said fire codes require elementary buildings to have many exits that can be easily opened by young children.
He believes the installation of audible alarms on the exit doors will “provide an additional layer of safety for our students and staff at the elementary buildings.”
The alarms are designed to sound every time an exit door is opened in order to alert staff. Teachers will assess the situation and disarm the alarm using a key, Lucas said.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority, and we will take every action to assure the safety of our students,” said Lucas.
Thomas said she was pleased with the school district’s actions.
“They made us feel more comfortable,” Thomas said. “I’m glad they purchased the alarms. I know Ethan was in the wrong, but it shouldn’t have been a possibility that a child could get out.”
Thomas said Ethan left school because he wanted to go home. He did not bring in a note to school indicating he had an early dismissal.
The cost of the alarms, which were to be purchased and installed immediately, was not to exceed $50,000.