You may not have any idea what a key check refers to, but most likely, your kids do.
It's part of a safety drill Abilene students practice several times a year.
"The teachers know to immediately lock the classroom doors, turn off the lights, turn off computer monitors and then they have a designated classroom area where they are to go and huddle with their students," said Steve Hodges, principal at Ward Elementary.
All of the staff here at Ally Ward Elementary make sure they're prepared to keep your kids safe in the case of any kind of emergency, including an intruder.
Even the principal walks down the halls and checks the locks on every door to make sure no one is getting inside without his knowing.
"This is not "Leave it to Beaver" anymore we wish that it were but it's not and we live in a society where safeguards like this are just very necessary," said Hodges.
It's even harder to get into some of Abilene's newer schools like Myra Martinez Elementary.
To get in here you first have to buzz in and wait until someone unlocks the door.
It may seem extensive, but safety is on a lot of minds now especially parents.
"It hit close to home it made me really made me realize that you know it could happen anywhere," said Stricia Robertson, whose child goes to Ward Elementary.
So faculty around the Big Country are on high alert to ensure their campus is as harder to get into than out.
AISD administrators say they're working on getting security cameras around more of the schools.
For now, only three have outdoor security cameras that are on 24/7.
It's part of a safety drill Abilene students practice several times a year.
"The teachers know to immediately lock the classroom doors, turn off the lights, turn off computer monitors and then they have a designated classroom area where they are to go and huddle with their students," said Steve Hodges, principal at Ward Elementary.
All of the staff here at Ally Ward Elementary make sure they're prepared to keep your kids safe in the case of any kind of emergency, including an intruder.
Even the principal walks down the halls and checks the locks on every door to make sure no one is getting inside without his knowing.
"This is not "Leave it to Beaver" anymore we wish that it were but it's not and we live in a society where safeguards like this are just very necessary," said Hodges.
It's even harder to get into some of Abilene's newer schools like Myra Martinez Elementary.
To get in here you first have to buzz in and wait until someone unlocks the door.
It may seem extensive, but safety is on a lot of minds now especially parents.
"It hit close to home it made me really made me realize that you know it could happen anywhere," said Stricia Robertson, whose child goes to Ward Elementary.
So faculty around the Big Country are on high alert to ensure their campus is as harder to get into than out.
AISD administrators say they're working on getting security cameras around more of the schools.
For now, only three have outdoor security cameras that are on 24/7.
