Selecting a school can be a very tasking thing to do. Parents must do a lot of research and consider factors such as budget, location, quality of teachers, and security. A lot of information has to be compiled to make a decision.
This article focuses on school security and how it can be improved. A school is a child’s home away from home and should be the second safest place for a child after home. But we’ve seen many unfortunate situations of school security breaches, with some resulting in injury or even loss of lives of teachers and students.
The school management must prioritize security on the premises and continually review current security measures. Students must also be educated on essential safety tips. Below are effective and practical ways a school can use to increase security:
Installation of CCTV
CCTV cameras are excellent deterrents from bullying, vandalism, substance abuse, and unauthorized access. The fear of the “all-seeing eye” of the security cameras is enough to put these activities in check. CCTV cameras also give teachers peace of mind as they can focus on imparting knowledge to the students.
Security cameras become invaluable during emergencies such as fire outbreaks, active shooters, knife fights, and so on. The perpetrator or root cause of the emergency can be easily identified and students can be evacuated safely.
The school management should install CCTV installed in strategic locations throughout the out. It’s not enough to just install these cameras, they should also be monitored to quickly detect any problem as it happens.
Secure The Perimeter
It’s important to separate the school grounds from nearby buildings or lands using appropriate perimeter barriers. There should also be designated student drop-off zones and parking areas to enable the supervision of students and visitors coming in or out of the premises at all times. Having separate parking lots for students, staff, and visitors can make it easier to monitor entry and exit.
Adequate Lighting
The school’s interior and exterior should have adequate lighting to protect staff, students, and the building itself. To improve visibility, dark areas and walkways should be fitted with automated and programmable lights.
Programmable lights can be set to turn in the evenings or when there is low visibility due to the weather. Some light features have motion sensors and turn on when they detect movements, and this helps to prevent trip-and-fall accidents. Adequate lighting paired with CCTV cameras will strongly discourage trespassers or any party with nefarious intentions.
Verification of Staff
The school management should carry out extensive background checks when hiring teaching and non-teaching staff on a permanent, temporary, or contract basis. This is to preserve the safety of the students as well as the integrity of the school.
A thorough background check also helps management to confirm that the individuals they employ have the required training and certification. Prospective staff members can lie about their qualifications and only through proper checks can the management find out.
Install Silent Panic Alarms
Public elementary and secondary schools in Florida and New Jersey are required to install silent alarms linked with law enforcement as per Alyssa’s Law. The Alyssa’s Law was created in response to the tragic shooting that occurred in Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida where 17 student and staff members lost their lives.
By having silent alarms linked to law enforcement, the intention is to improve response times in case of any emergency so the proper authorities can get on the scene as quickly as possible and neutralize a threat.
“The time that it takes for emergency personnel to get to the scene of an emergency can mean the difference between life and death. Alyssa’s Law proposes a set of regulations that significantly decrease the amount of time that it takes for law enforcement, EMS teams, and the fire department to respond to life-threatening emergencies on school property.
It is recommended that all schools comply with this law regardless of whether adherence is yet mandated,” says SaferWatch, a company that provides advanced life-saving tools for Alyssas Law Florida compliance.
Regular Workshops and Review of Emergency Protocols
Regular workshops should be organized to educate students, teachers, and parents on how to spot events before they happen. Non-teaching staff such as cleaners, attendants, and drivers should also be included in such sessions or have different explaining sessions held for them.
The management should also periodically review the school’s protocols for possible emergencies, including weather, unknown intruder, medical, and so on. Appropriate parties should be made aware of changes in the school’s security and preparedness protocols.