SOUTH RIVER — The Board of Education approved a security contract on June 30 that will include improvements at the borough’s primary, elementary and middle schools.
The contract for the security improvements was awarded to Integrated Services and Systems Inc., which bid $469,169 for the project.
Upgrades to the primary school are estimated to cost $193,380. The cost for elementary and middle school security improvements is estimated at $275,789.
According to district architect Rich Alderiso, of DI Architecture, the school district is able to fund the upgrades with the help of a state grant from the School Development Authority. He said the grant would fund about 51 percent of the costs for the improvements.
According to Alderiso, the new security measures will ensure the safety of students.
Each of the three schools will have extra security cameras installed around school grounds, including the parking lot and all entrances and exits. Access controls will also be provided at all doors.
The primary school will have door exit alarms so if a student attempts to leave the building when they are not authorized to do so, an alarm will sound alerting officials, according to Alderiso. Door access controls will be added at all three schools.
“That is something that the parents were really hoping for with this project,” said Alderiso about the door exit alarms.
The security improvements are expected to be in place by the next school year.
Previous security upgrades were installed at South River High School in 2010.