As education budgets tighten and the overall economy remains uncertain, the draw to the almighty dollar increases. Now, more than ever, “buyer beware” needs to be the mantra of consumers of school safety information, services, and products. The line between professional, best practice school safety information and product vendor-influenced information appears to be getting more and […]
Category Archive: School Security Equipment and Technology
Stop Protecting Hamburger Better Than School Kids
Fast food restaurants and shopping centers for years have had better security than many schools. Yet there are still people questioning security measures, such as cameras and police officers, being placed in our schools. In most fast food restaurants, you can only enter through a limited number of open doors. When you step inside, you are […]
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 […]
School Access Control: Two Simple, But Powerful, Practices
Proximity or swipe card readers, electronic door opening controls, surveillance cameras, and visitor management systems are among a list of access control and management strategies put in place in schools across the nation. School administrators and safety officials can effectively integrate these and other strategies into their school security plans. But two simple, but powerful, practices are too frequently overlooked and/or under-emphasized: […]
School Safety Requires a Mindset, Not Mechanical, Change
A school shooting or other high-profile violence incident occurs in a school-community. Within hours, parents and others call for more surveillance cameras, metal detectors, and other physical security equipment. Parents understandably want a “guarantee” that threats to school safety will not happen a second time at their school. Most educators realize, however, they cannot honestly provide such a guarantee. Yet it […]