Five School Safety Upgrades That Cost More in Time Than Money
As a school security consultant, I often discuss advanced technology like camera systems and access control. But some of the most profound safety improvements have little to do with expensive hardware. They are about process, relationships, and diligence.
From my time on the force, I know that well-practiced procedures are more valuable than the fanciest gadget in an emergency. For school leaders in ] looking to enhance safety without breaking the budget, here are five high-impact, low-cost upgrades you can focus on this summer.
Build a Relationship with Your Local PD/School Resource Officer (SRO): Invite your School Resource Officer or a patrol team from your local police department to walk the campus. Buy them a coffee. Ask them what they see. They will notice things you don’t, and that 30-minute investment will pay dividends in a crisis. A first responder who already knows your school's layout is a massive asset.
Drill Down on Your Visitor Management Protocol: Your sign-in process is a critical layer of security. Is it followed religiously by everyone? Do substitutes and volunteers get the same level of scrutiny as any other visitor? Tightening up the process costs nothing but requires leadership and consistency.
Clarify Emergency Roles: In a lockdown, who is responsible for communicating with the district office? Who grabs the emergency go-kit? Who is the designated point of contact for parents if the principal is busy managing the incident? Create a simple, one-page document outlining these roles and ensure everyone knows their job.
Audit Your Emergency Contact Information: This is a simple but vital task. A communication plan is useless if the parent contact information is out of date. Dedicate administrative time to verifying and updating this data before the school year starts.
Re-launch Your "See Something, Say Something" Program: Don't let this become just another poster on the wall. Re-launch it with passion in the fall. Talk about it in assemblies. Explain exactly how to report a concern. Emphasize that it is a tool for helping people, not getting them in trouble. A strong reporting culture is the best threat detection system in the world.
Expertise is Your Best Investment
These procedural upgrades are the backbone of a safe school. Our consulting services often focus on refining these very processes through staff training and procedural audits. Contact us to learn how we can help you turn these simple ideas into a powerful, integrated safety program.