Security to be permanently heightened at Cedar Rapids Washington

Students are noticing more locked doors and police officers on the campus of Washington High School in the wake of a Wednesday fight at the school.

The Cedar Rapids high school has enacted increased security measures going forward in response to the incident, which involved three students as well as two non-students who entered the building.

All of the doors to the building are now locked during the day, except for the three main office doors. There also will be an increased police presence on campus.

The new precautions were coming for a long time due to increasing crime in the surrounding neighborhood, according to Principal Ralph Plagman, who said the fight was the last straw.

“I'll always err on the side of too much caution. I just feel given the social condition of the community, it was time to make these changes,” Plagman said.

Plagman said that there were no threats of further violence going ahead, and that the students were reacting well to the changes.

“They're going to class and taking care of business of usual,” he said. “We all want the same thing.”

Plagman added that the police department has been extremely helpful in increasing the school's security. He expects the changes to be permanent.

“I don't think they will go away any time soon,” he said.