For the past few weeks, Bedford School District buildings and procedures are being watched very closely for any potential dangers to students and staff.

With nationwide problems in schools, now is the time for Bedford to take a close look at security, said Mark Conrad, the district’s chief financial officer.

“I think we saw value in having an outside pair of eyes coming into the district to take a look at our buildings and procedures,” he said.

A security study, being done by W.L. Bliss Inc., of Dedham, Mass., will cost at most $27,650, said Conrad. The firm is being paid hourly and the bill could cost less.

The firm’s approach is multilayered, he said. It will look at emergency procedures currently in place, everyday school operations and technology -- including the buzzer system that will be in place at the new high and middle schools.

“Once the school day begins, all visitors, parents and students who are late will have to come through the main entrance and be buzzed into the schools,” Conrad said.

Possible recommendations could include the need for buzzer systems at other schools, and whether video surveillance is necessary throughout the district.

“It was our intent to be proactive in this area. We do think our schools are safe now,” Conrad said.

Bill Bliss, president of W.L. Bliss, agreed that being prepared is the right way to go. He has worked with business and structure security since 1958 and as a consultant for about 20 years. His firm was awarded the contract over four other firms, Conrad said.

“There have been some school incidents that have been terrible, and it’s better to be proactive than to be sitting around sucking your thumb,” Bliss said.

The firm started the study in early March and should be finished by the end of June.

Along with looking at the physical buildings, Bliss’s team is talking with the Bedford police and fire separtments, principals, parents and teachers about school security in Bedford.

“Security is a very important matter and I treat it that way,” Bliss said.

Bliss said none of the findings are ready for release.

“So far, we’ve seen little things that could be improved, but this is quite common,” he said.

Some recommendations that the firm will present to the district will be procedural changes, others might be for structural or technology changes, he said. The latter will likely increase some costs for the district in the future.

Conrad said the study will give the district enough time to effectively work any recommendations into the 2008-09 budget.

This type of planning isn’t unusual for school districts, Conrad said.

“I think every school district today is involved in emergency planning,” he said.