School security is going over the line.

The recent amount of school shootings and break-ins have made local parents and officials cry out for increased security in public schools. This type of reaction is understandable, since they families who are sending their children to public school need to be ensured of their safety. CUSD’s school policy even states that Chandler students have “the right to learn in a safe environment.”

But when safety measures cease to exist for preventing dangerous situations and become only a hassle for students and staff, it is time to look at the rules again.

Since the start of this year, it has become school policy to have the gate next to the library closed as soon as school releases for the day. This gate leads to parent pick-up and the library, where many kids work on homework after school. Students are now expected to use the gate next to the D-building, which is located on the far south side of the school.

Students who have classes on the opposite side of campus? Too bad. They are not allowed to leave through the doors out of the C-building, but have to instead take the long way to get to a location that is less than 200 feet from their classroom.

“The reason the gate is closed is because parents were picking up near the library and causing a huge traffic problem,” security guard Linda Skanes said. “Students are not allowed to leave through there to dissuade parents from picking their kids up in the wrong place.”

The problem with this is that many parents still drive through near the library, because it is closer and easier for them to drive through. many kids also still have to get to the library, making the new policy more of a hassle than necessary.

The case is the same for the gym, which is locked immediately after school ends.  Many students have to use the gym for sports and lockers. Locking it does not support any plausible measure of safety. There is still a chance of danger, sure, but after most students have left and several athletes are in need of supplies in the gym, these measures only seem ridiculous.

School safety is necessary, especially in the wake of attacks in America’s schools, but schools must be careful that  these tactics don’t  become more of an annoyance than a precaution.