JEFFERSON TWP — On the first day of school Wednesday, South Butler School District students will be walking through school entrances that look a bit different.

The district approved new security measures at the primary, intermediate elementary, middle and high schools with captured entrances, costing about $650,000. Construction was approved by school board members in February and work began in May.

The security features are unique compared to what many schools in Butler County have.

During school hours, when parents or other school visitors come to the building, their driver's license is scanned at an outside kiosk and checked for child abuse infractions before the doors are opened.

Only one set of doors can be opened and shut. Once the visitors are inside, there is another level of security at the captured entrance vestibule with an attendance secretary sitting at a “bank teller window.”

The window areas are equipped with large drawers that can fit items like gym clothes, books and lunches. Another set of doors would let visitors into the building itself, but only if they have an approved driver's license.

Each entrance also has three cameras and a thick security glass.

“The most important thing about security is to have as many layers as possible,” said Mike Leitera, superintendent, giving a tour of the new system.

Separate entrances were designated at each building. At South Butler Intermediate Elementary, a new set of doors were built to fit the captured entrances.

The district also hired an additional campus police officer. Four retired state police now will patrol the South Butler campus.

Several districts, like Karns City and Butler, have metal detectors that students and visitors walk through each day. The secured entrances at South Butler are geared more to parents and visitors who come and go during the day.

“The main thing you want to do is cut foot traffic in the building,” Leitera said. “When you get in there (through the kiosk), as long as you pass, your visitor badge is already made.”