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As the school year began, metal detectors were front and center to help everyone feel safer. As they walked through, students headed right into some fascinating content rarely discussed in the context of school safety.
No one has greater insight into the trajectory of school and healthcare safety and security than practitioners and solutions providers.
They interact daily with patients and students, gathering data and input on well-being, safety considerations and overall campus culture. Whether it is a teacher, a nurse, an administrator, a school resource officer, a guidance counselor, or a security director, the information they collect and the conversations they overhear or partake in daily are invaluable in making campuses a safe and welcoming place to learn, work and heal.
Understandably, campuses focus on safety and security matters unique to their population and surrounding environments. After all, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to campus safety; schools must adapt to their evolving circumstances to make impactful decisions that improve student and staff welfare. Because of this, insights offered by solutions providers are equally valuable. These industry professionals have regularly discussed issues on campuses of all sizes and demographics. They can identify trends through these conversations and adapt their technologies or resources accordingly to fit each campus or district’s distinctive needs. They can share lessons learned from one campus with others with similar wants and challenges.
PRIORITIZATION OF EMOTIONAL SAFETY
Danielle Stevens, District Safety Manager, Lake Zurich CUSD 95 District, and 2023 Campus Safety Director of the Year winner:
“In the upcoming year, I predict a significant increase in investment towards emotional safety in K-12 schools. While physical safety remains foundational, we recognize the indispensable importance of emotional well-being. Our district’s commitment to emotional safety is a key focus as we collaborate with our District Safety Committee to evaluate and expand our existing program.
“Prioritizing emotional safety alongside physical safety involves building trust, promoting empowerment, and being sensitive to diverse needs and experiences. All stakeholders, including the entire student body, staff, parents, and first responders, are integral to the training process. Safety drills should adopt a trauma-informed approach, incorporating advanced communication, sensitivity to triggers, supportive staff presence, on-site student services, debriefing, and post-drill activities for classroom resetting.”
SCHOOL AND HEALTHCARE VIOLENCE
Dr. Marisa Randazzo, Executive Director of Threat Management, Ontic:
“In 2024, we’ll see an overall decrease in school violence, as several states have now enacted laws requiring behavioral threat assessment teams in schools as a critical violence prevention tool. At the same time, there have been trends of false reports of active shooter incidents at schools around the country.
“When a false report is created, it adds tremendous stress to students, teachers, staff, parents, and responding law enforcement. These ‘swatting’ calls will continue to impact schools and law enforcement as they delegate resources to unfound threats. They also have the potential to increase further the fatigue of all involved, including students and parents.”
THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF SCHOOL SECURITY
Guy Bliesner, School Safety and Security Analyst, Idaho School Safety and Security Program:
“With zero school shootings always the goal, the tragic likelihood is there will be more acts of weapons violence in and around America’s K-12 schools in the upcoming year. This is despite significant investment in security infrastructure and, in many cases, well-intended governmental mandates.
“The exposure is apparent. The opportunity may be less so. Exposure often results from ineffectively applied or sporadically implemented physical security systems or processes in a school. This is the ‘rock propping the exterior door open’ conundrum writ large. New equipment, more capable systems, and procedures will not address this failure.
“The opportunity here is the need and ability to affect the human element in school security. The answer is behavioral modification, and enculturation is the method. A school community (students, staff, and parents) that embraces their security procedures and effectively utilizes the security tools available will unquestionably provide a safer and more secure school.”
AI-ENABLED TECHNOLOGIES
Craig Oberschlake, Business Development Manager, Education, Bosch:
“Spending on safety and security in education is expected to increase again in 2024, as campuses look to reduce risks in buildings and on grounds.
“The use of artificial intelligence in security and safety solutions – such as cameras with built-in AI-driven analytics – will grow in 2024 as decision-makers learn more about their capabilities.
“AI-enabled cameras will help campus safety departments move toward a predictive approach to security. These devices can alert personnel to suspicious activity, unsafe conditions, or other critical situations before they become a problem.
“The cameras can detect crowd formations, trespassers on athletic fields at night, vehicles in restricted areas, and more. Combining video and audio, AI can even help detect the presence of a gun visually or detect the sound signature of a gunshot and estimate its direction.”
So…as the school year continues, metal detectors will become a matter of fact, but kids will still keep walking right into some fascinating content rarely discussed in school safety.
This column is by Ritchie Lucas, Founder/CEO of the non-profit The Student Success Project. He can be reached by email at ritchie@studentsuccessproject.org and on Facebook as The Student Success Project.
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