By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
The arrest of a murder suspect last Friday has renewed concerns about school safety in Great Bend. Law enforcement officers arrested Lyndsay George on Friday morning as a suspect in the murder of 59-year-old Teresa Dutton earlier that day. The arrest occurred shortly after George had entered and been escorted out of Park Elementary school.
School officials sent an alert that day to the families of the children at Park Elementary notifying them that an unauthorized visitor had entered the building at 8:02 a.m. through the school’s front doors.
The alert to parents went on to say that the unknown female was confused when speaking with school staff but followed requests from school principal Adam Cline to leave the building. The school staff notified the Great Bend Police Department about the incident. Shortly afterward, George was taken into custody in a nearby parking lot that was not on school grounds. It wasn’t until later that day that school officials learned of George’s alleged role in the murder.
The issue of school safety was not on the agenda at the Great Bend Board of Education meeting Monday night, but it was discussed briefly by Board members.
John Popp, the school district’s assistant superintendent, also addressed the issue.
“You really need a secure entrance,” Popp said. “We do have a buzzer system, but you need that second row of locked doors so that the only way in is into the office. That's a big need.”
While discussing future projects for the school district, several Board members expressed their opinion that safe entrances and safety upgrades should be a top priority for all of Great Bend’s public schools.