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Lawmaker impressed by security measures at Iredell Co. elementary school

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Every parent wants to know their children will be safe when they send them off to school, and officials at Central Elementary School in Iredell County hope to provide them with some peace of mind.

The school will become the first in the state with special technology that is so effective, other schools could soon follow suit.

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Rep. Ted Budd toured the school Friday morning, and the security was so efficient, the lawmaker said he thinks other schools could learn from it.

To get into the lobby at Central, visitors must get buzzed in through the front door. Once inside, visitors are always being watched by security cameras.

The school has also installed locks on the base of doors that are so simple, even students can use them.

The powerful locks, which could stop a gunman, are just as important to parents.

"I have no issues dropping my child off at school anymore, knowing he was safe,” mother Kim Campbell said. “It makes being a parent and dropping off your child so much easier."

Since 2015, when a woman was accused of shooting her estranged husband outside the school, safety has been a top priority at Central Elementary School.

Then, on Thursday, there was a scare after someone reported a possible gunman outside another local school. Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm.

Installing the locks throughout Central cost $10,000, but the motivated mothers on the PTO worked with businesses and churches until they raised the funds.

Budd was so impressed with the extra safety measures, he thinks it could spread to other schools.

"It needs to be made on a region-by-region level, but this is certainly a good idea," he said.

The mothers who helped raise the money to install the locks told Channel 9 they have received interest from other schools in the area and in other states, ranging from elementary schools to middle schools and even a high school.

"Our goal when we started looking at this was obviously to make Central a safer school,” mother Stacy Campbell said.

The mothers said they're willing to do anything they can to help schools get the locks installed.

Click here for more information on how to get connected to those resources and tips on how to raise money for your school.

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