17 years ago, the tragic events that transpired at Columbine High School forever changed the way we approach school security. What had been “tried and trued” in the past is not enough anymore. With gun violence on the rise, the need for security in schools has never been more urgent. However, many school districts do not have the budget to take all the necessary precautions. Indeed, the task of heightening security protocols can understandably seem daunting. This article should serve as some inspiration.
What follows are three examples of schools that have gone above and beyond in the name of security for their students. Each of their situations has been different, so each of them has had different responses. However, one thing holds true across the board: increased safety for students.
Eugene, Oregon
O’Hara Catholic School, located in Eugene, Oregon, decided that their school could do with a few improvements in the safety arena. They started with implementing a strong access control system, for both the school as a whole and for individual classrooms. They also sprung for a buzzer system, security cameras, and even a fingerprint scanner. School staff have been given key-cards as part of O’Hara’s access control protocol.
These sorts of security systems can go a long way in keeping your children safe, so O’Hara Catholic School is making a worthwhile investment. To learn more about O’Hara Catholic School and what they are doing to keep their young ones safe, you can read the full new article HERE.
Denver, Colorado
In light of the anniversary of the terrible events that took place at Columbine High School, one school district just outside of Denver decided to take their security to the next level. Douglas County School District spent $12,300 on 10 semi-automatic Bushmaster rifles, and the corresponding equipment. The security personnel hired to carry these weapons were first subjected to 20 hours of additional training.
Indeed, deterrence can go a long way when it comes to security. A strong show of force is proven to deter crime, and there is almost nowhere that this is more important than in schools. You can read the full news story HERE.
Chicago, Illinois
Middletown Elementary School, located just outside of Chicago, has taken security to a whole new level. In the wake of Sandy Hook, this school immediately implemented drastic security protocols to control and monitor their campus. These protocols started with background checks for every adult that was going to be on-campus, including parents. Clean background checks would be symbolized by brightly colored lanyards that must be worn at all times while on-campus.
This school then began to implement an intense access control system to control the flow of traffic into and out of their building. This protocol was coupled with a network of state-of-the-art security cameras, as well as a high-tech mobile integration system. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before parents at Middletown Elementary were able to stop worrying. You can read the full new story HERE.
Want to tighten security system at your school? Get in touch with us at Herring Technology today! To get the ball rolling, we’ll give you a free security risk assessment!
