Tips For Increasing School Security

It’s back-to-school season, and Cothron’s, based in Austin, Texas, is sharing information on how to boost campus safety.

This year in Texas, there is a greater emphasis on school security, due to new legislation. These regulations – which came about after last year’s Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde – include armed officers and mental health support. But what else can schools do to increase safety?

Keep Exterior Doors Locked: A huge part of keeping out unwanted guests is regularly locking doors. Within schools, there are parents coming in to pick up their kids, teachers leaving campus for lunch, students moving throughout different buildings for different classes…Many campuses, therefore, have their doors on timers, allowing entry/exit at certain times of the day. Others utilize access control options, which are covered below. Find a solution that works best for you, and do everything you can to keep the front door locked.

Set Up Surveillance Cameras &/Or Alarms: Security cameras and alarms can be used to monitor what is happening around you. CCTV can be set up at entrances and other high-traffic areas, and if/when a door opens when it shouldn’t, a security alarm can alert everyone.

Designate Specific Perimeters: Schools must clearly communicate with faculty & staff, students, and parents, and part of this includes designated areas (such as where kids are dropped off/picked up), schedules (like letting visitors know when they can/can’t come to campus), and expectations (on what to do in case of an emergency, for instance).

Implement Access Control: More and more homes, businesses, and educational institutions are turning to security solutions that control who has access to buildings. A popular pick is fobs or badges that can be scanned to permit entry. Currently, many are also turning to identity-based access control, which uses biometric identity like fingerprints to open doors. 

Have Response Plans In Place: We all remember doing fire drills when we were children, and today, emergency preparedness must be taken to a whole new level. Whether there is a natural disaster or an active shooter, there must be a clear, specific plan in place. Everyone needs to know exactly what to do and where to go, and the emergency drills must be practiced regularly. 

Hire Security Guards: Some campuses rely on security professionals to monitor and protect. With this new Texas legislation, many school staff members will also be armed. If these solutions are right for you, gun safety must be a priority; if possible, keep firearms locked in gun safes to prevent any accidents. 

Improve Classroom Security: Finally, each classroom should be as secure as possible. For classroom doors, consider fire-rated and/or bullet-proof options. Make sure they lock from the inside or even have an automatic locking system. Windows should be able to be covered, as well. These are just a few of the basic security measures to keep in mind, though there are a plethora of classroom safety options, including barricade devices. 

As school starts, Cothron’s hopes you all have a safe and successful year! And if you are looking to boost security on your school’s Austin Area campus, contact us here.