School Security Measures for Safe Learning Environments


School Security Measures for Safe Learning Environments

CNN reports that there were 23 school shootings in the first five months of 2018.  In each of these incidents, at least one person was shot excluding the gunman.  Seeing this fact rattled me to my core.  I thought about my children, how they were once in schools similar to Parkland and Sandy Hook and Santa Fe.  I had to understand how schools were trying to combat this.  America’s mass shooting incidence rate has many layered causes, so I wanted to look specifically at the schools.

We want our schools to have the security of our prisons without feeling or looking like prisons.  Learning environments must be just that—learning environments.  By focusing on CPTED—crime prevention through environmental design—school entrance design and visitor and staff management, schools can achieve that careful yet attainable balance.           

CPTED technological measures call for everything from video surveillance to electronic door locks to duress/panic buttons.  Many stores and banks have such technologies, so why not our schools?  Well, the security industry is responding to this need.  Duress and panic buttons can now be worn discreetly by key staff members in the form of a pendant to alert the authorities and the entire school of a threat even while walking the halls.  Door position switches built into doorframes ensure that doors are as locked and closed as they look. b

Besides the technological, schools are taking many physical and managerial measures to secure their campuses.  My LinkedIn article “New Security Measures Sweeping theSchools of America” delves into these mechanisms, like strong visitor management, single point of entry and perimeter fences. 

Campuses everywhere are acting to make America’s kids safer.  With CPTED security enhancements, they aim to protect students while maintaining an open, welcoming atmosphere best for learning.  Students at every level of education must be protected, and I will be passionately following developments in this issue.

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