School Security Products and Technology: Why K-12 School Leaders Need Independent Guidance
School security products and technology are big business. Access control systems, classroom locks, weapons detection systems, panic buttons, surveillance cameras, artificial intelligence, drones, and other emerging technologies are increasingly promoted as solutions to complex K-12 school safety and security challenges. But school leaders do not need another sales pitch. They need independent school security analysis […]
Weaponized Drones in Schools: Why Pepper Spray Drone Programs Are a Dangerous School Safety Experiment
Children deserve evidence-based school safety, not to become part of the next high-tech experiment. Just because technology exists doesn’t mean it belongs in our schools. The latest school security trend involves remotely operated drones equipped with pepper spray, strobe lights, sirens, and other tactical features designed to respond to active shooters. While some may call […]
School Security Research: What the Latest Study Reveals About Public Support for Active Shooter Drills, Target Hardening, and Arming Teachers
A new peer-reviewed study shows public opinion is more nuanced than headlines suggest. The findings reinforce the need for evidence-based, developmentally appropriate school safety policies, transparent communication, and careful evaluation of trade-offs. When school violence captures national headlines, public pressure often drives calls for more visible school security measures. Active shooter drills, target hardening, and […]
School Safety Product and Technology Decision Checklist: An independent school security tech decision guide for school leaders
Too many school safety technology decisions are made under pressure—after a tragedy, during a funding window, or in response to persuasive vendor claims. In those moments, it’s easy to confuse action with effectiveness. That’s why I developed the School Safety Product and Technology Decision Checklist—an independent due-diligence resource to help boards, superintendents, and district leaders […]
Counter-Argument: Reevaluating the Necessity and Effectiveness of the New ASIS School Security Standard
Guest article by Dr. Stephen Bucheli Bayne While the recent ASIS proposed standards for school security are positioned as a necessary advancement for ensuring safer educational environments, several critical aspects warrant reconsideration: Overemphasis on Physical Security Measures: When implemented properly by local collaboration, physical security measures can enhance the protection of school buildings and their […]
ASIS School Security Standard: Heavy on security hardware, products, and technology mandates — and heavy on potential financial and liability burdens for school leaders.
Are you a superintendent, school board member, or principal who does not want to be blindsided by school security mandates, financial burdens, and potential liability? If so, you will want to learn about a new maneuver, largely driven and influenced by security consultants and vendors, to create a “school security standard” that has potentially significant […]
School security market data versus independent research data: Strategic school safety leaders need to know the difference
School board member: We have limited resources. We need to spend wisely while also letting parents know we are doing something. Superintendent: It’s hard to cut through the noise. Principal: I don’t know who to believe or who to trust – and I don’t need more headaches that make leading our school more difficult. I […]
School security vendors say educators are not tapping into their training for products and tech they sell to schools, but principals say they are not getting enough training. Where is the disconnect?
School principals tell us they are not receiving adequate training for using the security products and technology purchased by their districts. One principal told us he spent nearly three hours trying to track down the movement of one specific identified student using new cameras installed in his district. Building principals have noted from time to […]
When “layers of security” becomes a spin phrase to dodge questions about gaps and limitations of school security products, hardware, and technology
The most novice of security students understand that the concept of “layers of security” is a basic concept of professional security practices. The basic premise in the simplest of explanations is that multiple layers of security may lower risks of full security breaches. While a basic concept to security professionals, the concept — and more […]
Are security vendors setting up school leaders to fail? When superintendents and principals overpromise on school security, they lose their school community’s trust and confidence on school safety.
School leaders turning to physical security measures such as metal detectors, AI weapons detection systems, panic buttons or badges, and other trendy measures should exercise caution not to overpromise school security to parents, teachers, and students. Superintendents and principals should avoid parroting vendor marketing claims and overpromising security Some security hardware, product, and tech vendors […]