La Grande High School installs exterior door alarms amid controlled-access transition
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – As the 2026-27 school year gets underway, La Grande High School students and families may notice a change with how they are expected to enter and exit the school. In a letter sent to families, La Grande High School Principal Chelsea Hurliman announced that door alarms have been installed on all exterior doors, with all students and visitors now expected to use the high school’s main vestibule during the day, outside of emergencies.
This is part of a transition by the school to a “controlled-access model,” the goal being to more adequately track who enters and exits the building and take appropriate action when door alarms are tripped. The full letter from Chelsea Hurliman can be read below:
“Dear La Grande High School Families,
The safety and security of our students and staff remain a top priority at La Grande High School. As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen building security, door alarms have been installed on exterior doors. These alarms will immediately notify school administration whenever a door is opened during the school day.
We will also be moving to a controlled-access model in which students and visitors may enter and leave the building only through the school’s main vestibule. This change will help us better monitor who enters and exits the building and allow us to respond promptly when an exterior door is opened. When an alarm is activated, staff will determine why the door was opened and take any appropriate follow-up measures.
Students will receive information about these new procedures and will be expected to use the main vestibule whenever entering or leaving school. Exterior doors will continue to function as emergency exits when necessary. If you are visiting LHS during the school day please enter through the vestibule. Gym entrances will be available for home contest events.
These improvements will help us secure our building more effectively while maintaining a welcoming learning environment for our students, families, staff, and visitors. We appreciate your support as we implement these important safety measures.
If you have questions about the new procedures, please contact the La Grande High School office.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Hurliman
Principal
La Grande High School”
