How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security?

Jon Jones ● Aug 8 ● 10 min read

School safety and security is a top concern for students, parents, and educators. With school shootings and other violent incidents making headlines, it’s important for schools to take steps to ensure the safety of their students and staff. But, how can schools improve safety and security?

There are a number of ways that schools can improve safety and security, including implementing security measures and promoting a positive school culture. In this blog, we will explore these and other strategies for improving school safety and security.

The Importance of Learning How Schools Can Improve Safety and Security

The safety and security of students and staff in schools is of the utmost importance. Schools should be places where students feel safe, supported, and able to focus on learning without fear of violence or other dangers. Unfortunately, school shootings and other violent incidents have made headlines in recent years, highlighting the need for schools to take steps to ensure the safety and security of their communities.

Ensuring the safety and security of schools is not only important for the well-being of students and staff, but it is also essential for the overall success of the school. When students feel safe and supported, they are more likely to be engaged in their learning and to achieve academic success. It is therefore crucial for schools to prioritize safety and security and to take proactive steps to ensure the ongoing safety and security of their communities.

Enhancing School Security via Comprehensive Physical Assessments

So, how can school improve safety and security? To ensure the safety of schools, conducting regular physical security assessments is paramount. These assessments aim to identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and areas for improvement within the school’s infrastructure, systems, and protocols. Monarch recognizes the importance of a comprehensive security approach and offers schools the expertise needed to conduct effective physical security assessments.

Identifying Vulnerabilities: Physical security assessments involve a thorough examination of a school’s physical environment, including its buildings, entrances, exits, and surrounding areas. By identifying potential vulnerabilities, schools can take proactive measures to address them and enhance their security posture.

Assessment Elements: A comprehensive physical security assessment encompasses various elements. This includes evaluating access control systems, surveillance camera coverage, alarm systems, lighting, perimeter security, and emergency response plans. Each of these factors contributes to the overall security ecosystem.

Overall, physical security assessments serve as a fundamental tool in identifying vulnerabilities and areas for improvement within schools. Monarch recognizes the significance of these assessments in enhancing campus safety and offers its expertise to assist schools in creating secure learning environments.

How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security: Security Systems

One way that schools can improve safety and security is by implementing security measures such as surveillance cloud cameras. These cameras can be placed around the school to monitor activity and provide a record of events that can be accessed by school officials and law enforcement in the event of an emergency.

Access control systems can also be used to restrict access to certain areas of the school and ensure that only authorized individuals are allowed in. This can include the use of key cards, biometric scanners, or other security measures.

Environmental sensors can also play a role in improving school safety and security. These sensors can detect potential hazards such as gas leaks, vapes, or fires and alert school officials or emergency responders in real-time. This can help to prevent accidents or disasters from occurring and protect the school community. By implementing these and other security measures, schools can take important steps to ensure the safety and security of their students and staff.

How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security: Emergency Preparation

In today’s unpredictable world, ensuring the safety of students, staff, and visitors in educational institutions has become a paramount concern. Emergency preparedness plays a vital role in mitigating potential risks and responding effectively to crisis situations. Several key elements contribute to a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan that can greatly improve safety and security in schools.

Emergency Protocols and Drills: Well-defined emergency protocols serve as a foundation for a school’s preparedness strategy. Regular drills involving students, teachers, and staff help familiarize everyone with appropriate responses to various scenarios, such as fires, lockdowns, and evacuations. These drills ensure that individuals know their roles and responsibilities during emergencies, enabling swift and coordinated actions.

Communication Systems: Effective communication is essential during emergencies. Schools need reliable communication systems that can disseminate information quickly and efficiently to staff, students, and parents. Implementing tools like emergency notification systems, mobile apps, and intercoms facilitates real-time updates and instructions, keeping everyone informed and safe.

Collaboration with First Responders: Collaborative partnerships with local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services are integral to a school’s preparedness efforts. Regular joint drills and training sessions help ensure seamless coordination between school staff and first responders during critical incidents.

Parental Communication: Involving parents in emergency preparedness fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility. Schools can keep parents informed about emergency plans, protocols, and upcoming drills. This collaboration ensures that parents are aware of safety measures in place and can support school efforts.

In summary, schools can significantly improve safety and security by implementing a holistic approach to emergency preparedness. With such approach, schools can create a secure environment that is prepared to respond effectively to a wide range of situations. Monarch is dedicated to supporting schools in their journey towards enhanced safety and security through comprehensive emergency preparedness planning.

How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security: Elevating Campus Safety with Effective Visitor Management

Enhancing safety and security within educational institutions is a top priority, and an integral aspect of achieving this goal is through effective visitor management. Schools need to create controlled environments where only authorized individuals have access to campus premises. Visitor management systems play a pivotal role in achieving this objective by providing a comprehensive solution that helps monitor, track, and regulate the entry of visitors.

Maintaining a Controlled Environment: Visitor management systems allow schools to maintain control over who enters their premises. By implementing these systems, schools can ensure that only approved individuals, such as parents, guardians, and authorized visitors, gain access to the campus. This level of control helps prevent unauthorized entry and enhances the overall security of the school.

Streamlined Check-In Process: Modern visitor management solutions streamline the check-in process. Visitors are required to provide identification and relevant information upon arrival. This data is then stored in a secure database, making it easier for school administrators to verify the identity of visitors and track their movements within the campus.

In conclusion, visitor management systems play a crucial role in enhancing campus security by maintaining a controlled environment and regulating access to educational institutions. Monarch recognizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to school safety and offers advanced visitor management solutions that contribute to the overall security framework.

How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security: Promoting a Positive School Culture

Promoting a positive school culture is another key strategy for improving school safety and security. A positive school culture can help to create a sense of community and belonging among students and staff, which can in turn help to prevent conflicts and reduce the likelihood of violent incidents. There are a number of ways that schools can promote a positive school culture, including:

• Encouraging Students to Report Suspicious Activity: By encouraging students to speak up if they see or hear something that seems out of place, schools can create a culture of trust and transparency that can help to prevent incidents from occurring.
• Providing Psychological Resources: Schools can provide students with resources such as counseling services, mediation programs, or peer support groups to help them cope with stress and conflicts in a healthy way.
• Encouraging a Sense of Community and Belonging: Schools can promote a sense of community and belonging through activities such as clubs, sports teams, and other extracurricular programs that help students connect with each other and feel like they are part of something bigger.

By implementing these and other strategies to promote a positive school culture, schools can create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

An Introduction to Verkada: How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security?

How else can schools improve safety and security? Here at Monarch, we will work with you to design a school security system to improve safety. Together, we will design, implement, and oversee a security infrastructure for both safety and convenience.

Verkada offers a wide range of security products, including facial recognition cameras, access control, intrusion sensors and professional monitoring. All Verkada devices integrate with each other and are managed from a single cloud dashboard. Consider the following features of all Verkada devices:

Simple to Use

• Solid-state Storage (SSD): No NVR, DVR, or server is required. This means you pay for what you use – and that’s all. This reduces any extra overhead operations and the associated expenses,
• Regular, Automatic Software Updates: No need to worry about if your devices are working properly or are up-to-date with our Verkada devices.
• Simple Plug-and-Play Install: Just a standard Ethernet cable is required for the cameras to be brought online and fully operational within minutes.
• Accessible Anywhere, Anytime: Access archived or live feed videos on any device or browser
• Time lapse: Watch a day of footage in under 30 seconds with timelapses.
• Floor Plan: Quickly respond to incidents with real-time motion plotting. 

Scalable

• Unlimited Storage on Camera and Cloud: Reduce your organizations’ liability risk with unlimited cloud archiving offered by Verkada cameras.
• Unlimited Users Allowed: You can easily authorize admins access to an unlimited number of users.
• Infinitely Scalable: No matter how large the facility is, we can help you keep everyone on the same page. 

Limitlessly Smart

• AI-Based Video Analytics – People and Vehicle: Face detection, person of interest detection, and license plate detection are all available.
• Smart Filters: Search for specific people, vehicles, and objects without having to spend too much time scrubbing through footage.
• Live Alerts: Receive instant alerts in any meaningful event
• Shareable Live Feeds: Share your live feed via SMS. This is useful as you can send it to first responders in case of an emergency for dramatically reduced response time.
• 10-Year Warranty: Rest assured that your money is well protected

Conclusion: How Can Schools Improve Safety and Security?

In conclusion, school safety and security is a critical concern for students, parents, and educators. By implementing security measures and promoting a positive school culture, schools can take important steps to ensure the safety of their students and staff.

It is important for schools to continuously review and assess their safety protocols and make necessary updates to ensure the ongoing safety and security of their school community. By prioritizing safety and security, schools can create a positive and supportive learning environment for all students. Monarch is here to help you decide which security systems best fit your school.