School safety is not a plug and play sport. You can’t just plug in a new security product or piece of technology, walk away, and expect that things will run on autopilot.
Why “it’s better than nothing” often isn’t really “better”
Too often in recent years, I have heard school officials say, “Well, it’s better than nothing,” when referring to new security products or technology, or new plans and protocols they added to their schools. Oftentimes, they are added in context of increased pressures upon school administrators and school safety officials to “do more” to make schools safer.
“It’s better than nothing” may make sense to some whose goal it is to take the pressure off themselves or to do more out of hopes that it will, indeed, make their schools safer.
You alter your system when you alter system
But strategic school safety leaders recognize that when they introduce new people, procedures, or products into their systems, they alter their systems:
- Human behaviors (student, staff, parents, visitors, etc.) will likely be influenced.
- Inadequate training and/or comfort with the new items may add stressors to people.
- Overloading staff with dozens (or hundreds) of pages of new safety or emergency plans may result in people being overwhelmed or dissuade people from reading everything.
- Tech glitches or unintended consequences may occur.
- Repairs and upgrades in technology will likely be needed.
- Financial systems, especially if products or technology are involved, will likely be impacted for ongoing costs, even if initially items are funded by grants.
Consider fidelity of implementation before deciding to alter your system
Strategic school safety leaders understand that meaningful school safety is not just about having the product or plan. It is about fidelity of implementation of that which you have chosen to do.
Granted, even good attempts to implement with fidelity may face hurdles and imperfections. If issues ultimately arise, questions may focus on whether what was or was not done was reasonable. The facts and merits will vary in each case.
Sometimes meaningful school safety may mean doing less, but doing that which you choose to do thoroughly, effectively, and with fidelity of implementation in mind. This process starts with considering what fidelity of implementation would look like before you ever make the decision to add something new to your school and school safety systems in the first place.
Dr. Kenneth S. Trump is President of National School Safety and Security Services
National School Safety and Security Services
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