ASIS International is offering schools in the Dallas Independent School District the opportunity to compete for $20,000 as part of ASIS’ School Security Funding Competition. The competition coincides with the ASIS International 56th Annual Seminar and Exhibits (ASIS 2010), Oct. 12-15 at the Dallas Convention Center.

 

ASIS is sponsoring the School Security Funding Competition for the seventh consecutive year. The aim of the competition is to encourage local schools to assess the security issues that confront their buildings, staff and students.

 

 

The Dallas ISD is the 12th largest school district in the nation with 225 schools and a diverse population of more than 157,000 students. The school district encompasses an area of 384 square miles in the eastern portion of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

 

 

The competition asks the schools to consider—through a series of short essays—their particular security concerns and how those concerns might impact their students, teachers and administrators. They are asked to describe security risks they would attempt to reduce and/or eliminate, and list specific security enhancements they would purchase with the funding. A committee comprised of members of the Dallas ISD police and security team, along with security management professionals from the ASIS North Texas chapter, will judge the submissions.

 

 

The winning school will receive $20,000 to develop measures to enhance its security, either through the purchase of equipment or ongoing training/education for school personnel and/or students. All submissions are due by the end of March. The winning school will be announced in April. The winning school and its principal will be recognized at a special awards luncheon during ASIS 2010.

 

 

Last year’s winner, Brea Olinda High School in Orange County, Calif., purchased security cameras and related software. Other winning schools have purchased perimeter fencing and communication equipment.