BAR HARBOR — Mount Desert Island High School officials are working on a plan to increase security measures at the institution. That decision came as a result of a security review issued by the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department last fall.

“We are looking at all of the possibilities,” said MDI High School principal Sally Leighton. “None of the statements in the report were mandates – they were just suggestions for modifications and changes that we can implement.”

Chief Deputy Dick Bishop performed the security evaluation in early September at the behest of the school. In his report, he recommended that video cameras be installed in every school building on Mount Desert Island, along with a host of other changes. According to Deputy Bishop, cameras would allow authorities to better protect the buildings and grounds during non-school hours and could provide a useful tool during crisis situations.

Since the security report was issued, parents and educators have raised concerns regarding the prospect of dramatically heightened security. “We’re struggling with the idea of having a strict security climate inhibit the culture of our school,” said Ms. Leighton.

The school is working on improving its security, said superintendent Rob Liebow. “It’s just how you do that most effectively. We want to take the most reasonable course of action without making the place less student friendly or less friendly to the public.”

Although measures as extreme as a fully locked door system, entryway cameras, keypads and intercoms have been discussed, school officials are unlikely to adopt this kind of security, they say.

Several procedural changes recommended by Deputy Bishop are being considered, said Ms. Leighton. “It’s difficult because we want to do everything we can for safety, but we don’t want to go too far to one extreme.”

“I don’t think anything dramatic is going to come of it,” said Mr. Liebow.

Since receiving Mr. Bishop’s initial report, Ms. Leighton has reviewed several pricing options with the school’s security company, Seacoast Security. She and maintenance supervisor Butch Bracy have been working to come up with feasible options for enhancing the school’s security measures. After talking with other schools across the state, she has found that maintaining one entry point into the school, as suggested by Deputy Bishop, seems to be the best option. Because locking each entry point except the main entrance would hinder the superintendent and his office staff, Ms. Leighton is now looking into another possibility. Leaving the outer doors at the superintendent’s entryway unlocked would allow Mr. Liebow and his staff and people needing to do business in that office to enter through a door on the left, she said. In this scenario, the inner doors leading into the school would remain locked, barring entry to the public.

Ultimately the decision rests with the school committee, said Ms. Leighton.

If the MDI High School committee is interested in pursuing the video surveillance recommendation, Ms. Leighton has cost estimates available, she said.

Developing clear lines of communication between schools and emergency personnel, along with the co-development of crisis plans, is a big part of the process, said Mr. Liebow.

Following Deputy Bishop’s initial report, previously overlooked issues in many area schoolrooms including non-fire retardant beanbag chairs, the use of power strips and microwaves that are not hard-wired were discovered.

At several locations, Deputy Bishop recommended that foliage growing in front of windows be cut back so law enforcement officers could have a clear line of sight into the buildings.

Deputy Bishop’s suggestions were timely, said school officials, because the Maine Department of Education (DOE) expanded its requirements regarding school emergency plans last July. To that end, the school submitted a planning checklist in October. The DOE will be randomly selecting districts for feedback and review throughout the upcoming year.

Final decisions on the enhanced security plan should be made no later than March, said Ms. Leighton.