‘Columbine’ locks OK’d for classroom doors

NASHUA – The School District’s plans to increase security in city schools took another step forward this week. On Monday, the Board of Education unanimously approved a fast-tracked project to install “Columbine” locks on all classroom doors – spending $407,262, including money from a contingency fund – to install the locks by the end of the school year. The bid for “Columbine” locks was awarded to Surveillance  Specialties of Wilmington, Mass. “Columbine” locks, named for the school in the infamous Colorado school shooting in 1999, allow school staff to lock their classroom doors from the inside in an emergency situation. The doors have two keys – one for the inside lock and one for an outside lock. While outside locks have individualized keys, any door can be locked with any key from the inside. The project was initially planned for completion by the end of April vacation, but Dan Donovan, chief operating officer for Nashua schools, said it may now take longer than that simply because of the magnitude of the project.