Manistee Finds Nightlock Works Better Than the Boot at a Fraction of the Cost

[XLFD]

Mason County, through their Mason County School Safety Planning Team (MCSSPT), first heard of the Boot back in April of last year, when a presentation was given by the creator of that device which locks down doors to help thwarting school shootings (as noted on p. 4 of the 2015 MCSSPT records).  By August, Sheriff Cole was introducing the "Boot Project" (p.6), and ready to implement it in September (p.7), which reached the  local media on September 25.   The device is fairly simple, consisting of a steel plate inserted through a door loop into two floor holes, as seen below.

The cost for the equipment and installation was said to be $230 or $235 per door.  Many fund raising events were done, donation requests were sent home with students: 

What was left out of the discussion outside the minute-free MCSSPT meetings was whether this was a good idea and a good investment for those who adopted and donated.  There was debate here over whether these devices were safe themselves; they were iffy on whether they complied with fire codes, specifically NFPA 1 14.5.2, this and more was exclusively covered in the Ludington Torch. 

Our friends to the north in Manistee County observed Mason County make these efforts last year, and did their own research into making their kids' school experience safe.  They have reached an entirely different conclusion on selecting a security device which appears to save a ton of money, keeps the kids safe from school shooters, simpler to implement, and doesn't compromise fire safety. 

The Nightlock is what it's called, and it works on roughly the same principle as the Boot.  A strike plate is installed in the floor, one is placed on the bottom of the door, and a sturdy but light piece of metal is inserted to secure the door.    

The video below shows the device being remarkably resilient:

Manistee Area Public Schools (MAPS) is committed to getting these devices installed in their schools.  When brought in bulk, these devices cost only $39 and can be easily installed by anyone with a drill, a screwdriver, and an interior door.  Each door can be secured for one-sixth of the cost of the Boot installation, without compromising fire safety (note Manistee contacted the state fire marshal who approved it). 

What is great about this device, beyond it saving about $200 per door, is that the 'working part' can easily be put near the door and out of sight in a translucent pouch until it is needed.  The securing is quick, and can be done by anyone, the removal from the inside is also quick and effortless.  The bulky Boot serves as a constant reminder of what it's for, which can be disturbing for some kids and teachers. 

Like the Boot, Nightlock is Michigan-made, from Flint.  Unfortunately, the MCSSPT may have missed the opportunity to save the people of Mason County a lot more money, and make their kids as safe or safer, by not choosing the Nightlock.   Such things happen when the affected community is left out of the planning process.  A sales presentation sways some public officials into making an impulse purchase.

According to the March 1, 2016 COLDNews (p. A8), $125,000 of the $190,000 needed has been raised to install Boots on each school classroom door in Mason County.  They would have enough money currently to install Nightlocks on each classroom door in Mason, Manistee, Lake and Oceana Counties. 

[John Doe Jr]

Basically, the same amount of thought that went into the "Knock Boxes". Yes, I know...

See something, gotta have it, gotta get the publicity for my, legacy.

These things could easily be made in High School shop classes by students.

Efforts like, "Odyssey of the Mind"  teaches students to learn creative problem-solving methods while having fun in the process.

These devices could even be mass produced to bring in income to pay for future shop equipment.

http://www.odysseyofthemind.com/learn_more.php

[XLFD]

John, undoubtedly you are making fun of Patti Klevorn who couldn't tell Knox boxes from Knock Boxes.  But it is a great analogy since both cost around a quarter of a thousand dollars and both have thriftier alternatives.

I equate it more with the City of Ludington contracting for water tower painting in 2009 with Utility Maintenance Services.  The spokesman gives a presentation at a city council subcommittee and cons Shay and the council into ponying up over $1.2 million over a ten year period to do a paint job that was worth a fifth of that in 2000. 

In 2009, the city was actually cutting city positions to make ends meet, and yet they approved needless repainting of the water towers at a rate nearly a million dollars over what it should cost.  Meanwhile, our neighbors in Scottville were getting their one comparable water tower painted the next year with less than a $50,000 expenditure from their funds.  It's only your money John Shay wants to waste, and you and your kids (if they decide to stay here) have plenty to pay for with the tens of millions of dollars that the City's neglect of the water and sewer system has forced upon you. 

[Willy]

While watching the video I kept yelling, hey stupid just bust the window, reach down and open the lock or just shoot thru it. Neither of the devices being considered are worth squat if there there are windows on the door or next to it. Another flaw with the nightlock is the removable pin. Keeping it handy in case of an emergency is nothing but foolishness. That pin will be a target for pranking students. If a nut job is hell bent on getting into a door then a 12 guage would turn out to be very handy and what is to be done with other widnows in classrooms. I bet they're not bullet proof. This is all stupidity on parade. Will all of this stop a child hell bent on destruction who is using a pop-tart shaped like a pistol or a blue bubble gun.

[XLFD]

When I went to the MCC Middle School for the school board meeting, I noticed they had "The Boot" holes on the door to the library, yet they had glass panes to either side of the door, that could be messily taken out with a couple of bullets.   

The door in the video had a window that was higher up and thin, making it a difficult task for a would-be shooter to shoot out the glass and unlatch the bottom.  In such a situation, where the teacher would have the time to secure a door, the students should be all positioned to be away from where they could be shot from the busted-out window.  But with MCC's confused ALICE training, the kids may be trying to throw paper wads and pencils at the attacker or trying to get out of the window.

There is no agreed-upon defense against a half-eaten strawberry pop tart or soap bubbles other than expulsion.

[shinblind]

Here is the opinion from the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) regarding barricading classroom doors. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n9dkeailDU

I would hope the Sheriff King er Kim Cole did his due diligence concerning this matter and didn't use the children's safety as a pawn in garnering publicity for his future reelection bid.

[Willy]

Good find shinblind. I hope you don't mind me posting the video here. It makes it easier to view without leaving the topic page.

[XLFD]

Now that video makes total sense, and justifies my original unease over the Boot.  The Mason County School Safety Planning Committee being composed of only law enforcement and educators were a bit blind to the safety implications which any fire officer should instinctively know.  Thanks for finding and posting, and for knowing how Sheriff Cole operates.

On Monday, I filed an amended complaint in my FOIA lawsuit with the Sheriff's office to make it a five count complaint.  Judge Sniegowski is in the process of doing an in camera review of the records that the sheriff is withholding and will get back with what needs to be released.  You won't hear about them losing this case from the other media around here when that does happen.