Eastern Regional High School implements security changes for upcoming school year

Voorhees, N.J. (WTXF) - Students at one South Jersey school are going to see some serious changes before they even step inside the building. It's all in the name of safety and security.

"We're only allowed to be dropped off in the back of the school now," said Anne Traczyk. She's talking about new security procedures parents and students will have to get used to this coming school year. She's a 10th grader at Eastern Regional High School in Vorhees.

"Usually my parents would just drive over here to just drop me off and it would be really convenient just go into school. But now it's only for like busses and so there's going to be a whole bunch of traffic in the back since the back space is really small," she said. Spoken like a true teenager Anne is talking about what she says is an inconvenience adapting to new rules. But in light of school violence across the country the school's primary concern is keeping students safe.

Anne's mom supports the changes.

"When I heard of it on TV I was concerned about it. I was scared. I think it's good," said Connie Yin. The school posted the changes and a map on the district's website. When school resumes next month students will now enter through two supervised doors in the back of the building. They won't be able to enter before 6:55 a.m. The parent drop-off location moves to the back of the building and the main entrance will only be for students arriving by bus, students who drive or who show up late. The back door entrance will be secured at 7:30 a.m.

"Any change is good if it's safer for the kids," said Eric Gold as he picked up his daughter Sydney after practice.

"I usually don't think about safety as much as I probably should. I think we take it for granted too much," said Gold.

The Principal Robert Tull said in a letter to parents that these changes are based on recommendations from a school security committee. The changes start when school starts September 4th.

If you wish to read the letter from the principal, please click here.