Only 95% of schools (on average) in the US control access to their school buildings during the school day. That 5% of schools have open doors for just anyone to stroll in or out… including intruders, kidnappers, or otherwise dangerous people.
In order for these measures to protect all students, all schools must participate. You never know when a terrible accident might happen that could have been avoided.
Luckily, there are some easy-to-implement things that you can do to keep your school safe and make this less of a worry.
Keep reading as we explore some of the key security measures you need on your school property.
Protect the Border
If your school often has outdoor events or sporting events, you need to make sure that teachers are looking around the school’s borders before students gather. This is a great way to not only deter a school intruder but also can help teachers ensure intruders aren’t hiding.
Another option here is to install a fence around the perimeter. This should be a tall fence made of a very durable material that people wouldn’t be able to scale or cut open.
Secure Locks
Locks are obviously a clear way to keep out intruders and practice good school security. You should equip any entry points to the school with safety locks that need to be accessed with a key, passcode, or remote entry system.
As the students are coming into the school in the morning, the doors should be open with staff at these entry points to survey. However, make sure they are locked once the school day begins.
You can have a security guard in charge of these doors to allow or deny people entry based on their reason for trying to enter the school during school hours.
Video Surveillance
Elevated video surveillance helps you watch over all areas of the school all day and night. This is crucial for deterring intruders, protecting students during the day, or catching criminals later. Go to Classroom365.co.uk to learn more about your CCTV options.
It’s a good idea to look at this footage daily to check for any suspicious activity that you need to follow up on.
Student Education and Training
Students have to know what to do if there is a lockdown or intruders are in the school. It’s important that students know how important these procedures are and that they know what to do in a panicky situation.
Having emergency procedures in place and practicing school drills regularly will help students remember in the heat of the moment what they should be doing.
Safety Plans
No matter what grade level your school is, you need a safety plan. This should be something all staff members know with ease, as the safety plan is essential for preventing further danger to students.
The plan(s) should have struct guidelines, recovery processes, response directions, and more to let the staff treat situations in the best way possible.
Keep Your School Property Safe
It can be extremely stressful when something happens that is unsafe or dangerous on school property. Even worse, if a student or staff member is harmed in the process, it’s likely something that will impact your school for years to come.
Be proactive and put these safety measures in place today to protect your school environment.
Did you like this article? If so, check out the rest of our blog for even more tips like these.
