Dive Brief:
- Schools don’t have the internal expertise to develop high-quality security plans that protect against violent intruders, but experts in banking and retail have been protecting businesses for decades and can be good resources for administrators.
- District Administration reports that a comprehensive risk assessment that looks at crime statistics, violent incidents and local weapon availability, among other things, should be a first step so any safety purchases are made with schools’ circumstances in mind.
- From there, districts can buy cameras, alarms and metal detectors to try to prevent an armed intruder, as well as install fences, locks, safe rooms, emergency communication systems and bullet-resistant doors and windows to slow movement once inside.
Dive Insight:
Sandy Hook Elementary School reopened this summer, four years after the horrific shooting that claimed the lives of 20 children and six educators. The original building was leveled after the shooting left it riddled with bullet holes and traumatizing memories, and local officials took that opportunity to outfit the new building with intense safety precautions, including cameras, impact-resistant windows and landscaping that leaves open sightlines to see approaching visitors. The design also makes it harder to see in first-floor classrooms, which are slightly raised.
While the worst-case scenario is easy to focus on, more than one-third of school principals reported zero violent incidents in their schools during the 2013-14 school year, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. A key element of safety plans, however, is staff and student training. During that school year, 70% of public schools drilled students on using that plan, and 95% provided training to classroom teachers or aides.