School should be an environment where all students and their teachers feel safe and secure, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
If you’re in charge of a school, it makes sense for you to be concerned. However, you should know there are different security measures and procedures you can implement to make your school safer for everyone.
These tips on securing students’ schools will help you get started.
Evaluate the school’s current security measures
Before implementing new security measures, you must examine your current ones closely. Is your school using metal detectors and panic buttons?
Does it use a video surveillance system? Is this system working properly, or could it be replaced with a newer model?
Evaluate the measures your school is currently taking to keep students and teachers safe so you can better understand which measures you should upgrade or implement.
Conduct a risk and threat assessment
Conducting a risk and threat assessment is important as you evaluate your security measures. This process aims to identify, assess, and mitigate the threats that could endanger students, teachers, and school staff.
A team of school administrators, teachers, and mental health professionals should conduct the risk and threat assessment process in cooperation with school resource officers or local law enforcement.
Monitor the school’s parking lot and entryways
Once you have a clear picture of your school’s security measures’ weaknesses and the risks and threats you should consider, it’s time to decide which new measures to implement.
Monitoring the school’s parking lot with a parking lot monitor and a video surveillance system could be essential. You should also lock all outside access doors of the school except for its main entryway. This will make monitoring who is coming in and going out much easier.
Implement a visitor management system
In addition to monitoring the school’s main entryway, you should consider implementing a visitor management system. All school visitors should go to the main office, sign in, and receive a visitor badge.
This will help you track who is present inside the school, why they are here, and when they are expected to leave. Additionally, you should train school staff to report any visitor who is not wearing a badge to the main office.
Implement a weapon detection system
As you determine how to secure schools for students, consider replacing old metal detectors with state-of-the-art weapon detection systems. These security solutions for schools come highly recommended.
Weapon detection systems use Artificial Intelligence to detect concealed weapons and alert the school’s security staff. No patdown or bag search is required. This technology is as discreet as it is effective and can help protect students and their teachers from individuals with bad intentions.
Hire security guards and strengthen partnerships
The presence of security guards or school resource officers in a school can be enough to deter acts of violence or vandalism. Establishing or strengthening partnerships with local law enforcement can be instrumental in assessing risks and threats and improving crime prevention in schools.
Whether security guards, school resource officers or police officers are present in your school, students need to be taught to come to them for help whenever they feel unsafe or threatened.
Create a safe and supportive school climate
Hiring security guards and monitoring the common areas of a school with video surveillance can help keep students safe. However, creating a safe, positive, inclusive, and supportive school climate is also necessary.
You can do so by promoting mental health support resources, implementing school violence prevention programs, and providing opportunities for students to interact positively with one another. Above all, each student should feel valued and respected and know that help or support will be available.
Implement an anonymous reporting system
Students can sometimes notice things that teachers don’t. As you develop and implement different programs to improve your school climate, consider creating an anonymous reporting system.
Suppose a student is worried about one of their peers or has a reason to think their security might be compromised. In that case, they should be able to easily and discreetly notify school officials and security staff.
Develop a proper school emergency plan and provide training
Finally, to secure your school for students, you should develop a full school emergency plan and provide training to teachers and other school employees. Everyone in the school needs to know what they should do in case of a fire emergency, a lockdown, an active shooter, or a natural disaster.
