Wichita Public Schools will pay up to $2.5 million for security upgrades at 11 schools

Eleven Wichita schools will be getting security upgrades for their front entryways.

The Wichita school board has approved a contract with Hutton Construction to pay up to $2.5 million for the upgrades.

Hutton will provide “construction work for secure entry, teacher locks, elevator access and intercom communications.” The scope of the work at each site and project timelines have not yet been established, district spokesperson Susan Arensman told The Eagle.

The 11 sites are Allison, Curtis, Mayberry, Mead and Pleasant Valley middle schools, Beech, Gammon, Jackson, Linwood and Seltzer elementary schools and Levy Special Education Center, which serves students from K-12.

Arensman said 22 additional schools that have yet to be named will eventually receive similar security upgrades as part of the district’s “ongoing security and facility enhancements.”

The $2.5 million figure is a guaranteed maximum price for construction work on the first phase of 11 schools.