Tom Talks: How is NCA improving safety on our campus?

Over the last 2.5 years, safety and security has evolved from relying on staff and volunteers, into full-time armed presence stationed on campus from 8am - 6pm each day. We have armed and trained security staff who are equipped to handle situations with care and caution to ensure your child's physical safety. Additionally, we have implemented new cameras and new door locks, all through the campus. We also made a brand-new modification in this school year where we added more securely locked down doors with zero entry unless you have a valid badge. We have a Safety & Security Team comprised of administrators and school leaders who meet regularly to assess situations that occur, both on our campus our when school or church incidents happen nationally. Lastly, we provide training to all staff on safety measures we have taken and how they should respond in the event of an incident. While we have deterrence plans of an intruder, we also hold regular drills for fire, earthquake, medical lock downs, and other safety precautions, too.  

Tom Goepfert Campus Safety Officer

While we welcome visitors, there is a strict check-in policy that must be adhered to. We require anyone arriving to campus to show a valid Driver's License ID, and we process a rapid background check through our new Raptor safety check-in system in the lobby. If all of that is acquired, then they receive a temporary badge that we process. Even if someone has been a prior visitor, they are still required to undergo the full check-in process each time they visit campus.

Tom Goepfert Campus Security Officer

People have to have a valid reason as to why they've arrived on our campus. If they're here for the school, then it's the same process as I mentioned. However, any folks whom may be in need of pastoral care are ushered to the lobby and Church staff meets with them in the lobby or they can undergo the same safety check-in process that all other visitors undergo and can then visit the church staff offices. We recognize this is a shared facility and we are grateful for that blessing and this space. We are always staying aware of security needs and balancing being a welcoming campus, while also protecting all of our people both at the Academy and the Church.

Tom Goepfert Campus Security Officer

We do drills and lockdowns multiple times a year, more than what is standard at schools, actually. We recognize this is part of the broken world we live in and a need to make this a priority and ensure that our kids and our parents feel safe, so we are constantly working on improving these measures. Protecting our kids and staff is my job and what I am called to do, I truly believe that. In fact, I'm super excited to share some things we have in the works, like videos and future blogs (in additional to this one) that will be coming to students in classrooms in the very near future.

Tom Goepfert Campus Security Officer

Part of my role is not only ensuring that kids and parents feel safe, but also preparing and equipping all of our staff here at NCA to feel ready in the unlikely event that something would occur. I always operate (and want to encourage others to operate) on the principle: we are prepared not paranoid.

Tom Goepfert Campus Security Officer