School security and the safety of our children is one of the top priorities for educational institutions nationwide. School administrators, teachers, and staff monitor school premises and the well-being of the students within for both internal and external threats. Maintaining school security, however, cannot be guaranteed thanks to a vigilant staff alone. Physical security and new technology that include a wide range of options are vital to creating a safe environment.
School violence, bullying, as well as external threats have become global threats regardless of the size of the city or town where schools are located. Advanced technology including access control, video monitoring, metal detectors, physical barriers, panic buttons, and public announcement systems can all contribute to a secure school environment where students are safe and feel safe allowing learning to flourish.
School Security Issues
Security issues revolve around violence, terrorism, or social unrest. Left unattended, these security issues can lead to sabotage, abuse, bullying, addiction, and even acts of violence such as school shootings. Still, many educational institutions are unprepared and ill-equipped for the enormity of the risks. They do not have adequate prevention and emergency plans in place with evaluation methods, and often security systems for schools can be updated and modernised to become more efficient.
A lack of understanding of security issues and failure to address them can have dire consequences for everyone involved. A hostile learning environment, health consequences, and the potential for litigation will affect teachers, students, their parents, and school administrators.
Tackling Security Issues
Responding to security problems begins with analysing vulnerabilities and then selecting a school security system that offers specific solutions. Standard tools for creating a safe school environment include:
- Security cameras
- Video monitoring and CCTV
- Security teams on the premises
- Access control
- Alarms
Schools need to have security devices to monitor potential threats and intervene promptly. These devices should not be limited to indoor security but to the entire outdoor perimeter and premises. Monitoring devices will also aid law enforcement should a threat or damage occur. CCTV in particular can thwart or find those responsible for unauthorised access, vandalism, and violence on school property.
New Technologies for Improved School Security
In the quest to make schools safer, administrators are looking to and purchasing new technologies. This will involve considerations about student and staff privacy issues as well as logistical and economic needs.
Here are several ways that newer technologies are raising the bar for current school security systems.
1. Security Cameras and AI Security Cameras
Common technology has been using basic security cameras for video monitoring for some time now. Emerging video technology now includes artificial intelligence. AI software integrated into a video monitoring system allows systems to be proactive rather than reactive, often interrupting situations before they pose a threat. AI can recognize suspect objects and undesirable behaviour, alerting authorities before an incident occurs.
2. School Access
In the past, teachers were required to carry a badge or similar, to enter a building or they may have only been a designated employee at entrances. Now advanced door entry system use biometric door access technology such as fingerprint or facial recognition eliminating the need for badges, keys, fobs, and even digital credentials. Authorised people’s biometrics are already placed in the system allowing for quick identification and a smooth entry point.
3. Metal Detectors and Scanners
Schools at risk for gun violence or the entry of weapons onto school premises currently may position unsightly metal detectors at school entrance points. Passive body scanners now do the same work more unobtrusively.
4. Threat Reporting
Standard threat reporting includes dedicated email addresses, hotlines, or online forms on websites, but these all take lots of time to process and a threat may have already taken place. New school security systems include panic buttons, both fixed and wearable mobile panic devices that connect school staff directly with local authorities and emergency first responders, saving precious time.
5. Two-Way Radios or Silent Communication
Two-way radio communications are a traditional method for security teams, guards, and staff to communicate. Newer technology that communicates through messaging and texts now means that communications can be silent but above all immediate to a wider user base. They can be triggered by automatic alerts informing teachers, students, staff, parents, and first responders of an emergency as well as instructions about what to do.
6. Fire Alarms
Traditional fire alarms alone are no longer sufficient. New generation fire alarms are integrated into a school’s security system to not only detect but prevent the spread of a fire or smoke. Thanks to access control, specific sections of school buildings can be locked down and closed off to limit danger and damage. Together with fire alarms, vape sensors can also be considered to meet the growing challenge of students vaping during school hours on the premises.
Final Thoughts
Other available technologies include software that identifies inappropriate messages among students using language processing and sentiment analysis. Hence, school officials can be notified about acts of violence, danger, self-harm, or bullying. The well-being of students is monitored, and officials are informed if a problem is noted.
While privacy issues must be grappled with, the security and safety of the school community cannot take second place to individual privacy.
