No one knows yet what the final amount in a school construction bond proposal for the fall ballot in Wake County might be, but officials estimate right now that about $18 million could go for something that’s likely tops on many lists: school safety. Yes, the bond issue, if successful, might fund things such as more surveillance cameras, electronic door-locking systems, centralized public address systems and front-door buzzer systems in all elementary schools.

To their credit, school officials say they’ve been working on most of the ideas since before the shooting deaths of 26 students and staff at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in December.

But there’s no question that since then, school security has been a big issue, and one unfortunately used by the National Rifle Association to push for armed guards in all schools.

Some parents, however, fear the message that sends to kids and like the idea of safety enhanced with electronics and perhaps with unarmed monitors.

Wake County needs a school bond issue. If security improvements help make the case, that’s all to the good.