Durham school installs new devices to protect students from intruders

Historically, schools relied on door locks to keep intruders out of the classroom, but in light of recent school shootings, leaders at Gorman Christian Academy were looking for better security.

"The teacher would simply pull the door closed, and the door handle is already in the locked position," said Terry Chambers, the school's principal.

"When we come up to the door, we just lift up, and it drops right down," Chambers said.

Chambers says she knew as soon as she saw the devices that this was the right choice for her school.

"I was sold on it immediately because of the high quality of safety it offered us in each classroom," she said.

Lindsay Driggers, who teaches middle school at Gorman, said she feels more secure now that her school has cutting-edge security.

"These children who I love -- I love them like they’re my own -- and the thought that someone could take them away is just horrendous," she said.

Driggers said the students know how the devices work and are comfortable with them.

"As soon as lockdown is called, the students know exactly what to do. The student, whoever is closest, can flip the door really quick. It’s locked into place," she said.

Rhinoware is easy enough that young students can activate it.

"It makes me feel safer that we have this, because if something does actually happen like that, all we have to do is activate the Rhino," said eighth grader Morgan Moore.

"We’re a family at Gorman. We wanted to make sure everything we did was to keep our children safe and our teachers safe," Chambers said.

The school has raised the money for the Rhinoware through private donations. Thirty doors have the technology.

Students at Gorman have successfully used the Rhinoware during lockdown drills on several occasions, even barricading themselves in the bathrooms when the alarm sounds.

The school has a special tool to unlock it from the outside if there is an emergency within a room.

The company which makes the hardware is based in Raleigh.