When school security consultants have hidden product vendor affiliations

Posted by on October 14, 2013

A public school district in one southeastern state spent more than $2.3 million in security equipment and upgrades at the recommendation of an outside security consulting firm. A school district in the Midwest received a school security consultants’ proposal that included a unique line about assessing door hardware as a part of the consultation process. […]

Select school security consultants as if lives depend upon it

Posted by on October 7, 2013

How can school superintendents, school board members and business managers distinguish credible school security consultants from a growing pool of overnight experts and opportunistic, less-qualified individuals offering school safety services? This question was posed to me by a veteran local and state-level education administrator concerned by the growing number of people offering school security assessment […]

School safety post-Sandy Hook: Proven, tested strategies prevail

Posted by on September 29, 2013

For the past nine months, our team of school security and communications consultants have maintained a steady approach and methodical voice of reason while serving as an anchor to superintendents, boards and principals who are facing a tidal wave of school-community emotion on safety issues. We have focused on proven prevention, preparedness, response and communications […]

School safety post-Sandy Hook: Context and focus from up close

Posted by on September 28, 2013

Even the most seasoned of school safety professionals have struggled to make sense out of the senseless — the loss of 20 children and six school staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. While I do not believe most of us will ever make sense out of it, I have found some […]

School safety post-Sandy Hook: Focus on “How?,” not on “Wow!”

Posted by on September 28, 2013

More than nine months have passed since the December 14, 2012, school shooting attack upon Sandy Hook Elementary School in the Newtown, Connecticut, school district where 20 children and 6 school staff members were left dead. The horrific nature of the attack upon our youngest and most vulnerable children — elementary students — served as […]

School police: Amazing actions of a teacher facing danger

Posted by on June 17, 2013

A Florida suburban middle school teacher observed a student in his classroom showing another student what turned out to be a .45 caliber gun. The student returned it to his book bag from which he had originally removed it as the teacher approached. Did the teacher run, jump in the air and tackle the student? Did he yell “gun” and […]

Do ALICE training tactics put students, teachers at risk?

Posted by on June 14, 2013

Questions about student and teacher safety continue to mount as some schools deploy questionable drill tactics in which children and teachers are instructed to throw things at, and to attack, armed gunmen. The tactics stem from the controversial “Counter” component of the A.L.I.C.E. Training program, which stands for Alert-Lockdown-Inform-Counter-Evacuate. Questionable tactics stemming from A.L.I.C.E. training In recent months, […]

When social media turns into trouble: School threats, rumors, fights and more

Posted by on June 10, 2013

They’re talking about your school on social media:  gossip on Facebook, school fights on YouTube, threats on Twitter. Every child with a cell phone, every driver who sees a bus accident, every parent who disagrees with a teacher…they’re all texting and tweeting and posting pictures, videos and comments. Do you know what they’re saying? Information […]

You do have a school Crisis Communications plan – don’t you?

Posted by on May 20, 2013

If you ever face a major crisis at your school – and we hope you don’t – you’ll learn the real meaning of the phrase “misery loves company.”  Hundreds of reporters will descend upon you, and they’re not just the local reporters on the education beat. You will face reporters from major newspapers and online […]

Chechen terrorists: Beslan school hostage siege to Boston bombing

Posted by on April 22, 2013

Tension continues to grow as we learn more about possible international terrorism ties to the Boston Marathon bombers. My tension grew dramatically as soon as I heard they had Chechen connections. Most Americans likely know less about Chechnya than I do. And I don’t know much at all. But I do know that Chechen terrorists were responsible […]