It happened so fast, students might have missed seeing the installation of five new gates on South Campus.

To maximize students’ safety, St. Mary’s began putting in five gates on September 25 to secure the perimeter of the school. From the beginning of their time at St. Mary’s, the security team advocated for additional gates to ensure students only worry about their school work, not their safety. 

One of the new gates is near the Buckman Performing Arts Center below the Lackie Connector, one is located at the Walnut Grove entrance and all three entrances on Perkins have a new gate.

Director of Security Mark Hooper points to unwelcome traffic as the reason for this change. 

“The purpose is to cut down on outside vehicle traffic coming through campus,” he said. “People just kind of use it as a cut-through, [and] criminals were coming in on cars.”

In the past, criminals have targeted the senior lot specifically to break into automobiles, according to Assistant Director of Security James Fyke. To prevent this issue, the security team advocated for gates to make it difficult for thieves to drive onto school property to break into cars. 

Car break-ins and thefts are issues throughout the city of Memphis, but the rates are decreasing. According to the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, Shelby County’s major property crime rate has decreased by 19.2% in 2024 compared to 2023. 

This installation will not affect senior privileges or prevent students from leaving for appointments. Hooper and Fyke are planning to leave one gate open in the senior lot at all times so that students can exercise independence.

Head of Upper School Lauren Rogers said she recognizes the necessary balance between student’s freedoms and safety. 

“It’s really important for young drivers to have autonomy and practice senior privileges. That’s important to protect,” she said. “Also, we want to make sure that we have a campus that is safe and secure.”

Another significant change to security operations this school year is the fire drill process. In August, the Tennessee legislature passed a law requiring all schools to develop a new fire drill system to ensure the source of the alarm is actually a fire. As a result, the St. Mary’s security team has to confirm the alarm went off because of a fire before students can leave the building. 

Fyke details the rationale behind this new procedure.

“[The law] was in direct response to the Covenant School shooting. The fire alarm went off, and it was not because of a fire, it was because of the shooter,” he said, referencing a mass shooting at a private school in Nashville in 2023. “The state looked at it and said we need to add another layer of protection.” 

He also acknowledges many student concerns about being able to leave the building if there is a fire.

“These doors are uber expensive because they are thick, and they’re designed to protect [students],” Fyke said. “After the five minutes it takes me or Mr. Hooper to verify that it is a fire or just a false alarm, we can still get [students] out. We have a plan.”

To help further prioritize safe practices, Fyke recommends that students be aware of their surroundings when outside of the building. 

“If something just doesn’t feel right, please do not hesitate to let us know,” he said. “We will be somewhere close. We’re never far away. Just be vigilant.”

Looking beyond safety at school, Hooper has advice to stay safe in parking lots around the city.

“If you have anything of value that’s visible, lock it in your trunk. Lock your car,” he said. “Also, stay off those phones when you’re in that car. The trend criminal-wise, they’ll see you sitting in there. [When] you’re not paying attention, it is just a perfect opportunity for them just to walk up to you, bust your window and steal your car or steal your other stuff.” 

Regarding future security changes, Rogers guaranteed that students will be aware of any plans. 

“We’re going to keep people in the loop,” she said. “Students will be in the conversation.”