Strengthening School Safety

The quality of education is directly connected to a school’s view on safety. Schools have discovered that families will drive further and pay for their children to be in a safe learning environment. What used to be solely based on convenience and academic excellence now has a new and prevalent factor weighing into the decision on which school to attend. This new factor is school safety and how much the school appears to value the security and protection of students.

As School Boards are challenged every year with how much to invest in security for their campus, leaders and communities are rallying to ensure students and faculty get the best security possible. Schools with technology-based security systems may overlook the benefit of live security officers on campus, but nothing can beat a trained officer watching over students throughout the day.

Today, academics are more competitive, and research has shown that students who feel safe and are not worried about their personal safety tend to have higher grades and better focus. Students who feel fear or threatened are unable to function at full capacity.

Considerations Around School Safety

There are several things that people consider when they think about their children being safe while on campus. Most of the time, people want to know what measures are in place, how well staff are prepared for emergencies, how students are protected from bullying and violence, and if student mental health measures are in place. In our nation, mental health awareness is crucial for the health and wellbeing of students. If a school does not have measures in place for mental health, such as crisis counseling, it should consider incorporating these services to offer students the support they deserve.

Most think of school security as protection, but it is multifaceted, and there are unique challenges that schools across the nation face, including:

• Access – who has access, how are entry and exit points monitored, how often are emergency equipment tested to ensure the campus is secure?
• Visitor and Volunteer Management – schools receive visitors who must be tracked and monitored to ensure that no unauthorized individuals enter.
• Visibility – smaller schools may not feel the need to have processes in place to respond to emergencies. All schools, large and small, should be doing drills for natural disasters, as well as active shooters. We have seen small schools and large college campuses face these devastating attacks. Students need to be aware and know how to respond in case of an emergency.
• Bullying and Violence – there is no excuse for fighting and violence on school grounds. Students should not be fearful while at school. School must be a safe environment where students are free to learn and grow.

Live Security Patrols

One of the ways schools are looking to keep their schools safe is by training and employing experienced school security officers. Threats against students and educational institutions are unique, and only qualified security guards have the background, training, and experience to provide the highest level of protection. Many students have reported feeling safer when they see a security guard on campus. Schools may choose to have a uniformed officer on patrol around campus, monitoring lunch times, and present for all emergency drills. Attending lunchtimes with students and establishing authority that is evident to them. Armed or unarmed, security guards are trained in protecting the school campus, students, visitors, and faculty. In any emergency, it is critical to have designated people trained to lead evacuations and handle emergencies. Although many staff undergo this training, only someone with experience in the field can be relied upon to do the right thing in a critical situation.

The Wellbeing of Students

When it comes to choosing a school, families must feel that their children's safety is the highest priority. Knowing that your child is in a safe environment from the time they arrive until they go home provides peace of mind for parents, students, and faculty. Recent stories of school shootings and violence on campus have left parents in a tough situation as they decide how best to protect their child for their academic careers. When it comes to the wellbeing of our students, we must come together to ensure the appropriate amount of budget is designated to school safety and security. Small schools need to implement plans to ensure student safety, and large schools need uniformed officers on campus to monitor heavy student traffic and ongoing activities. The mental health of our students must remain a priority, and one way to achieve this is by incorporating security officers into the school’s existing security plan. No student should have to witness or experience a life-altering tragedy at school. No student should be confused in an emergency evacuation. Designated security officers can bring order to chaos because they are specifically trained in school environments.

Whether you are a parent, a board member, a teacher, or a college student, finding room in every school’s budget should be made to enhance security measures. Off Duty Officers are trained and ready to dispatch security guards with experience on school campuses. Call today for a free quote on tailored security services at 844-786-2692.