Security stepped up at Brookline elementary school

“The girls were praised for bringing this to the teacher’s attention,” Warren said.

Warren said a notice was sent out Tuesday to parents of children at the kindergarten through 8th grade school, which is located on Francis Street near Longwood Avenue.

The man was said to be in his 20s or 30s and was wearing a business-like suit and carrying a black gym bag, Warren said.

There was no school Wednesday because of the Veteran’s Day Holiday. But Lawrence School Principal Rick Rogers and Vice Principal Monica Crowley sent out a notice to parents Wednesday saying that effective immediately the front door at the school will be locked at 8:10 a.m. every day and anyone wishing to enter the building will need to ring the door bell and be buzzed in by office staff.

"We understand this step will be a major change for parents, but feel it is the single most important thing we can do to improve building security during the school day,'' the note to parents said. "It is certainly in keeping with practice in many other schools in the area. We are confident that we can maintain the welcome feeling for parents that we so value at Lawrence while still instituting this important safety measure.''

A surveillance camera may be installed temporarily in a hallway at the school, as well, the notice said. Parents of students in the 1st through 8th grade are also being asked to discuss the incident with their children.

A spokesman for the Brookline Police Department could not be reached for comment after 5 p.m. Wednesday.