Nov. 11, 1982 started out just as any other Thursday at Lake Braddock. Now, it is the end of the day, and students are in their final class; meanwhile 18-year-old high school dropout James Stevens’ mind is racing, pondering what he is about to do. At around 1 p.m. he enters the LB hallways with his high- powered rifle and takes nine staff members, including then principal John W. Alwood hostage for 21 hours. Events like these are the kinds that make administrators question the security of the school and its students; they also spur revolutions in the growth and development of school security.

No doubt exists that LB security has changed a lot in its 40-year history.

“As the school system has progressed the school security system has had uniformed school security people; that has expanded over the years,” security and safety specialist Ralph Gardner said. “There has been newer equipment and procedures put into place.”

In 1973, administration couldn’t foresee the incident that would happen two years later, where a bomber would explode a can of teargas and send 65 students to the clinic.  After every incident, new procedures have been put into place. Around the mid-`70s LB would see the introduction of new school security officers and student resource officers or SROs.

As the years progressed, the possibilities of new threats to school safety arose. In the late `90s, every classroom would be outfitted with a new crisis management security plan folder that would usually be located on the back of each classroom door.

“There has been newer equipment and procedures put into place,” Gardner said. “Every room now has a crisis management folder that gives them specific instructions on how to deal with a variety of incidents.”

Every school in Fairfax County now has to have two lockdown drills every school year. This is just one of the many now-standard security procedures that not many would have thought of 40 years ago.

LB’s security cameras make the school safer than other schools in the district without them.

“You can really see the difference between the schools that had exterior cameras and ones that did not,” Gardner said. “There is a big drop in vandalism.”

LB security continues to grow as a new keyless entry system has been rolled out for faculty.

“Very shortly we anticipate a video camera keyless entry system for the front doors,” Gardner said. “All the front doors will be locked, and in order for you to get into the building you’ll have to go to the entry point that has a video camera.  And you’ll be able to announce why you are here.”

Every time the school safety bubble bursts, administration and school directors all over the county get together and formulate a plan to keep the unthinkable from happening.  Even though the school is now the safest it has ever been, it still has room to mature.