The National School Boards Association annual convention is always one of the highlights of my year. Listening to, and talking with, our nation’s school board members inspires me as I hear about their commitment to school safety. My interviews with two board members, James Chavez and Kerry Young, found board leaders geographically from opposite sides of the country, […]
Category Archive: School Safety Issues
School Safety Interview: Board Member Marianne Jasen, NSBA Chicago Convention
As a presenter at the annual National School Boards Association (NSBA) conventions, I have the great fortune of meeting many of our nation’s school board members, superintendents, and education support organizations. This year, at NSBA’s Chicago convention, we spoke a lot about the importance of keeping school safety on the front burner during tough financial times. A […]
Is School Safety Really a Priority to Your School Board, Superintendent, and Community?
Why is school safety always the first on the chopping block by school boards and superintendents when schools cut budgets? Do they really care about school safety? It has been my experience that school board members, superintendents, and others in education are very caring people. They care about kids. And they care about their […]
School Security Photo: How Would You Feel as a Visitor?
A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes, and the words on the sign pictured here say it all: Our children and staff are important to us, we value them, and we want to keep them safe. “Greetings. Because we value our children and staff all visitors are required to report to the […]
School Athletic Event Security: Are You Prepared?
High school basketball game rivalries used to be fun and safe for students, parents, and other spectators. Most of them still are safe and enjoyable today. But many of today’s school athletic event games also require a new level of security planning by school administrators and safety officials. In the latest of video-captured basketball game […]
Bad Things Happen to Good Schools
When we hear of a school shooting or other high-profile school safety incident, it is normal for people to look to see what the school could have done to prevent it from occurring. But there is also a more subtle tendency in some people to believe there must be “something wrong” with the victimized school. […]
People Must Be Behind School Security Equipment
In our recent visits to schools while conducting emergency preparedness assessments, we have noticed a number of physical security designs and school security equipment being circumvented by some of the very people for whom these items were put in to protect: The school staff. Similar circumstances have been highlighted in I-Team news stories when reporters went into […]
A Stranger is in Your School: Does Anyone Know What to Do?
“Good morning. How may I help you?” This is one of the most powerful phrases any adult responsible for child safety can say to maintain a safe school. It is also one that is used the least by school staff. A February 24th Associated Press article entitled, “Police: Colo. gunman entered the school earlier,” reported […]
Why School Security Fails
Three reasons why school security fails: “It can’t happen here.” “We can’t afford it.” “We don’t have the time to do all that.” Submitted by: Jack Martin, President of The Martin Group and retired Chief of School Police, Indianapolis Public Schools Ken Trump Visit School Security Blog at: http://www.schoolsecurityblog.com
School Athletic Event Security
By now many have seen the latest high school basketball game near-riot at Monessen Senior High in Pennsylvania. There has been a lot of buzz about it online and on national TV. For those who have not, take a look and ask yourself, “Do we have adequate plans at our school to manage athletic event security […]