The Indianapolis Star ran a story last week on some school districts betting on artificial intelligence (AI) weapons detection systems as the future of school security. I spoke with the reporter at length when she was working on the story, and she captured my concerns in her story about fidelity of implementation issues and the […]
Blog Archives
What’s my “Why?”: A look behind the scenes of my writings on school safety, security and emergency preparedness
A popular question buzzing through the business and education worlds today asks, “What’s your ‘Why’?” Here’s a closer look at some of the “why” behind my articles and posts about school safety issues: “Does this guy ever post positive things?” or “Are we actually learning from failures?” I hear this question from time-to-time: Does this […]
Missing school security assessment reports, outdated plans, retired members on school safety teams, and high turnover of leaders: Is school safety part of your leadership transition process for new superintendents and principals?
“We have an entire top leadership turnover since your consultation with us five years ago and nobody can find your assessment report.” Imagine that being your first call in the morning as a school security consultant. How would you feel? The good news is that someone remembered that you were there and did something. But […]
School security vendors are spending millions for lobbyists to pressure state legislators to provide taxpayer dollars for products and tech they sell — whether or not it is what superintendents and school boards really need and can sustain
Dear Superintendents and School Boards: Your state legislators are providing you the “best” school security that money can buy — money lobbied for by school safety vendors’ lobbyists, that is! Plus, it will be up to your school district to find the funds to repair, replace, and/or sustain whatever you get once the vendors make […]
Are superintendents and school boards flying blind when buying school security technology and products? A leading AI weapons detection company is reportedly facing two federal investigations. But would school leaders even know when questions exist about school security vendors?
Scrutiny and questions ramp up on school security vendors and the growing “school security industrial complex” A leading AI weapons detection company is reportedly under a second federal investigation according to multiple reports this week, including IPVM (https://ipvm.com/reports/sec-evolv) and Security System News (https://www.securitysystemsnews.com/article/evolv-technology-gives-regulatory-update-following-sec-request) Industry reports and company releases indicate both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) […]
“Dancing with the Devil”: How some education associations and school safety conference organizers are selling their souls and conference agendas to security vendors — and potentially increasing school safety and liability risks for superintendents and school boards
“Unfortunately, we increasingly have to dance with the devil.” More than a decade ago, these words were said to me by a now long-retired head of a national association for school leaders. He was explaining to me why he had to fill a few annual convention speaking slots with vendor-affiliated speakers rather than more experienced […]
Mother of Oxford school shooter found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Landmark? Yes. Precedent for all future school shootings? Probably not.
A jury found Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of shooter in the Oxford (MI) High School school shooting case, guilty on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the loss of lives in the attack. See https://apnews.com/article/oxford-high-school-mother-charged-01f336607a496c5f9ff0cb3a7434d073 A landmark case This is a landmark case in being the first we can recall where a parent has been […]
Why voluminous school emergency/crisis templates are setting up school leaders for disaster – and why the absence of engaged school emergency/crisis teams is inexcusable
The U.S. Department of Justice review of the Uvalde school shooting observed that, “UCISD’s campus safety teams met infrequently, and annual safety plans were based largely on templated information that was, at times, inaccurate.” (See https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-r1141-pub.pdf ) The template approach to school safety is failing school leaders and school security officials. Filling in the blanks […]
Dr. Ken Trump’s school safety, security, and emergency preparedness forecast for 2024
The beginning of a new year is an excellent time to reflect on the prior year and ponder what the next year may bring. As in our personal lives, professional observations may vary and forecasts will often not pan out. But looking from the lens of others can add perspective and depth to our views […]
School security vendors say educators are not tapping into their training for products and tech they sell to schools, but principals say they are not getting enough training. Where is the disconnect?
School principals tell us they are not receiving adequate training for using the security products and technology purchased by their districts. One principal told us he spent nearly three hours trying to track down the movement of one specific identified student using new cameras installed in his district. Building principals have noted from time to […]