I am blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family, friends and colleagues. They are my best supporters and as deserved at times, my best critics. Our school safety consulting team is comprised of school security and communication experts who are not only great, experienced professionals, but more importantly who are great parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, […]
Sandy Hook school shooting report: New lessons or old lessons revisited?
A much anticipated report on the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings is due out Monday afternoon. The Connecticut State’s Attorney will present a summary report on the shooting, although the release of the full Connecticut State Police report continues to be delayed. The tactical response of Newtown Police and other first responders will likely receive a […]
School crisis lockdown plans when students are in restrooms
What do we do about students who are in the restroom when we announce a lockdown? This question is raised often during our school security assessment consulting and training presentations around the country. The issue has several variables schools must prepare for as they develop and refine their emergency guidelines. Don’t leave students stranded in restrooms […]
Hallelujah (Chicago Musicians Care) – A Gift to Sandy Hook
The one-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings is only weeks away. Many look for ways to offer their prayers and memorial gestures to those who lost their lives and to their families. I was blessed to have Kevin Tenbrunsel, the co-founder of the Chicago Musicians Care organization, reach out to share with me their […]
Ken Trump provides insights into school security camera failures
Columbus, Ohio, investigative reporter Paul Aker of 10 Investigates (WBNS) sat down with Ken Trump to get an inside look at school security camera equipment malfunctions — a problem we see around the nation during our school security assessments. Ken Trump Visit School Security Blog at: www.schoolsecurityblog.com Follow Ken on Twitter @safeschools Visit and “Like” Our Facebook School Safety News Channel at: www.facebook.com/schoolsafety
I-Teams find malfunctioning school security surveillance cameras; How to stay ahead
Your school district puts surveillance cameras in schools to protect students and staff. But what good are they if they are not working? Investigative news stories reveal malfunctioning, unrepaired school security cameras Recent investigative news stories uncovered disturbing school security equipment failures, in particular focusing on camera systems not being repaired in a timely manner: […]
Three steps to improve school bomb threat management and response
Superintendents, principals, and their first responders can improve management of school bomb threats by taking action to avoid three common problems we find when assessing school emergency guidelines and actual incidences of bomb threats at schools: No written procedure or one developed without input from first responders. Preparing for bomb threats requires more than simply having a […]
How schools can take a lead in youth suicide prevention
As increasing attention has – rightly – been paid to the issue of school-related bullying, growing attention, too, has come to the relationship between bullying and suicide. We’re doing more to address bullying with our nation’s youth, but we’re not yet doing enough to address the problem of suicide, the third leading cause of death […]
Lockdown communications with parents during school emergencies
Few things scare a mother more than a lockdown or safety crisis at her child’s school. Fear makes calm, sensible people frantic and fierce. This is a tough time for schools. Their first priority is protecting children. A lockdown is serious business. School staffers are tied up assessing the threat, talking to police, making sure […]
School bomb threats: Are principals putting students at-risk?
School administrators appear to be evacuating and closing schools more often in response to bomb threats, but such actions are not always consistent with best practices for bomb threat response. Moving students away from the school and sending them home often meets the emotional security needs of some educators and parents. But doing so could […]