A new report on K-12 school safety reveals that more than 50% of school safety incidents occur outside the classroom. Districts must prioritize full campus protection — from hallways to parking lots or even sports fields — to ensure that they’re prepared to respond quickly in an emergency, no matter where on campus an incident happens. By taking proactive measures, districts can be better prepared to address safety campus-wide.

Technology, training and effective emergency communication are all essential elements of safety plans aimed at ensuring full campus safety. During the 2021 to 2022 school year, about 857,500 violent incidents and 479,500 nonviolent incidents were reported by public schools. Notably, 99% of all alerts are for everyday emergencies, such as medical and behavioral incidents. When developing school safety plans, policies, and systems, the following steps can help districts to better protect their full campuses. 

The following steps can guide districts in enhancing their campus-wide safety protocols.

Start with access control: Know who is on campus and why

Access control should be at the core of any preparedness program. Understanding who is on campus and why they’re there is crucial for protecting areas outside the classroom. For example, technologies such as license-plate recognition in parking lots can inform districts about who is on campus. Visitor management systems and issuing badges for all visitors who enter buildings are also essential parts of access control. 

Collaborate with law enforcement and responders by integrating technology systems

Today, there is a growing trend across the country of police departments using real-time crime centers. Essentially, police departments create portals where critical information is brought on to one screen to monitor and respond in real time. Now, schools are integrating their camera systems into these real-time crime centers as well. This integration provides local law enforcement with real-time visibility during emergencies, so that they can see what problems are occuring, where they are happening, and can make informed decisions about where to dedicate their resources and deploy tactical units. 

Use full campus mapping to equip responders with precise location information

Understanding where an incident is occurring from a precise location standpoint is important because it helps responders deploy resources quickly and efficiently — which is critical when every second matters. Floor plans and full campus mapping are paramount. Mapping can also show precisely and immediately where safety assets are located — such as fire alarms, first aid kits, extinguishers and evacuation points — which are critical details for responders to make the most of every second.

Consider evening and weekend events that draw larger crowds

Many schools have stadiums and events that draw thousands of people, so ensuring there is a plan in place and that safety procedures are followed during these events is crucial. A system that can manage, control and cover large outdoor areas and facilities is necessary. For example, parking lots can be areas where emergencies occur. If a school has badge-based mobile panic buttons implemented, it can help mitigate these situations quickly and efficiently by dispatching help to the correct location. 

Put policies in place for full campus coverage: Clearly define expectations 

Districts must develop robust safety policies that clearly define response expectations and procedures. How do they want to respond? What does their response look like? What are the expectations of their community and their staff? Once these questions are answered, then a policy can be established and training can begin. In safety preparedness, training has to be continual in order for it to be effective. Role-playing is paramount — people need to be put in a somewhat plausible situation so that they can train in real time. Manuals can’t be pulled off the shelf when an emergency happens to guide what to do next. The more people train, the more they commit the next step to muscle memory. Training has to be continual and realistic. 

Understand how emergency communication happens: Don’t rely on cell phones alone

The best communication tools for emergencies are simple and easy to use without requiring people to think about taking multiple steps. When communicating in an emergency, the most essential thing to do is to communicate that there is an emergency to respond to. Simplifying communication technology allows users to solve this issue. There is a big misconception that an app-based panic button solution is sufficient. When an emergency happens, you may not have adequate cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. A user may also have to find the app and then login, which can take time when seconds matter. A simple process where you can press a button on a badge makes it easier to respond. 

Train every staff member and equip more people to respond in an emergency

Safety responsibilities should not just be left to security personnel. While many districts are increasing the number of security personnel on campus, these individuals can’t be everywhere. Everyone on campus — students, educators, janitorial staff — needs to be trained. These people have eyes on what’s going on in the school at all times. When thinking about eyes and ears and the ability to respond rapidly and immediately, ensuring that everyone is trained and equipped with safety technology, like a mobile panic button badge, is imperative. 

To better protect K-12 students and staff, school safety planning committees have to consider the incidents that occur outside of the traditional classroom, in places like sports fields and in parking lots. By implementing advanced technology, putting strong policies in place, and training all staff and students to be a part of campus safety, districts can improve safety campus-wide.