The Lambton Kent District School Board has hired a private security company to monitor and patrol the former Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School at night.
The property at 275 Wellington St. has been declared surplus now that students have moved to the new Great Lakes Secondary School on Murphy Road.
Superintendent of Business Brian McKay said, as with all of their properties, maintenance and security of the site has been budgeted for until it's disposed of.
McKay said they're also reviewing the camera coverage and lighting of the building, which continues to be available for community use.
"We've had a couple windows that were broken and they've since been repaired," said McKay. "That's in line with what we've normally seen in past years. I know we did receive notices by a couple members in the community that they heard an alarm at the first bit of September. The building is alarmed and has a security system. It was a false alarm."
Mayor Mike Bradley initially questioned the building's security after questions arose in the community.
He worried the building could become a liability as it moved through the sale process if it wasn't secure.
Bradley noted that the former Sarnia General Hospital and other vacant sites were vandalized and targeted by thieves, draining police resources and impacting surrounding neighbourhoods negatively.
