Please answer: Is your child's preschool secure? Do the doors of all church PreK programs remain unlocked?

Question

I finally found a preschool that I like for my 4 year old to start next fall. It's in a church, and there are three entrance doors that are UNLOCKED at all times. The preschool door is open as well.

I asked the teacher about security, and she didn't have anything to say, other than they've never had an incident.

I understand that it is a church, and the doors of a church typically remain open.

But, does this make anyone else uncomfortable? I am shocked that anyone could walk into the building at any time. There's not even a secretary that they have to walk past first.

Will I only find a more secure building if I enroll him at a preschool that is not in a church?

I posted a similar question a few weeks ago, and found that most other preschools were secure. But now I'm wondering if this is typical of a church program.

Please help!

Answer 1

My daughter's first church preschool has a locked front door and parents have to punch in a code to get in/out....it's a very small school in a so/so neighborhood. Her current one is in a very nice area, but is a much larger school/church and there are no locks or office to pass through. I feel very secure w/ her at both. Her teachers would never release her to anyone but the people on her list.

Answer 2

A church day care - preschool has different rules than a private owned one because they do not get the same funding from the state that others do.  It is typical of a church school to have doors remain unlocked but it's not typical for them not to have at least someone you have to check in with in order to go get your child...this would be a safety issue that I would address before I enrolled my kid.  It might be that they are understaffed or it might be that the secretary was called away to help out in another room.  Most private facilities have pass keys for their front doors but those are a more expensive facility.

Answer 3

First of all, these places that are unlocked need to be reported to DPW.  It is a violation and they are jeopardizing their licenses, not to mention the safety of the children.  Just b/c it is a church doesn't mean some wacko isn't going to walk in.  If the classrooms are in the church's building which needs to be open for daily business, then yes it needs to remain unlocked.  BUT, the entrances to the Preschool and/or the individual classrooms need to be locked at all times.  All staff should have keys, so they don't disrupt if they to enter another room.  All visitors need to knock and show ID if they are not immediately recognized in order to gain access.  So, sounds extreme?  Bet you change your mind after an intruder enters your child's school.

Answer 4

For awhile the doors were locked, been then they began staying unlocked.

Guess people get complacent when the "Media SCARE" wears off.

Answer 5

I don't think you are going to find a really really secure school anywhere. I'm in high school and I think 2 doors are locked in our whole school, the teachers break room and the food prep area.

Answer 6

The school that i teach at has preschool rooms and we don't lock any of our doors.  We should, but their's a big controversy over it.

Answer 7

At my daughters preschool (in a church) they don't lock the doors but the entrance opens up into the large toddler room so they know who comes in.

I work at a different preschool (which is also in a church) and they do keep the doors locked. We have doorbell installed so we know when soeone needs in. But perhaps the reason we can lock the door is because the daycare is in a building beside the church.