School Security

In business, we have adopted technologies and designed facilities that allow us to keep our buildings secure.  As employers, we have a responsibility to all employees to provide a safe work environment.  Many companies have a card entry system that restricts entry to employees only.  Most companies have a reception area where visitors are buzzed in to present themselves.  Schools need to adopt these solutions.

 

Schools are usually “wide open”.  Schools don’t usually have a reception area, nor do they keep their doors locked.  Schools should consider card entry for lots of reasons including theft prevention, but most importantly for controlling entry of those who could do harm. Card entry systems automatically record the entry and the card holder in a log that updates with each entry.  Cameras can be integrated with this entry and record whoever is gaining access.

 

Doors can be controlled electronically from a central security desk to close if a problem is suspected.  In a school, all doors could be locked to prevent a shooter from accessing classrooms or go to other floors in the building. Silent alarms can be used and installed.  All systems can be protected using codes only security officers know and can use.

 

Schools need a button that locks down the facility from entry, but allows exiting. We already have crash bars that do this, but we don’t limit access to entry and that is what we must do.

 

Whoever controls the security desk could be doing other work if the desk is set up properly. This would deter school shooters from attempting this if enough effective security measures and systems were deployed.

 

I set up a similar system in 1975 at the Tony’s Pizza plant for Schwan Foods.

 

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader