One manufacturer recently announced a program, which will provide free video management software licenses to local police or law enforcement agencies that are responsible for securing K-12 districts or preschool facilities.
The campus security department of a Toronto-based university commissioned a study to determine whether unique solutions positively influence decision-making and swiftness of incident response.
When it comes to integrating technologies, policies and procedures for K-12 and college organizations, the class acts are those that best know the classrooms, campus threats, security solutions, stakeholders, infrastructures, budgets and culture all wrapped inside these “micro-communities.”
A decade ago, the University of the Pacific installed emergency phone towers and wall mounts from Talk-A-Phone as an upgrade to aging emergency communication equipment.
Unfortunately, the makings of an active shooter situation arise almost every day. Just weeks ago, for example, a 16-year-old student from Dysart High School of El Mirage, Ariz., was arrested for carrying a loaded .25-caliber handgun to school and for making threats to a 14-year-old student, according to a report from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
While it may seem easy to address separate threats in separate ways, there are advantages to taking a more integrated approach to the use of security technology on campus.
Especially in K-12 environments and in certain locations or situations within higher education, the ways that staff and security manage visitors can make a crucial difference, according to Patrick V. Fiel Sr., a recognized national campus security expert.
While conventional credentials such as visitor passes and access devices enable physical access, the underlying issue is to verify, validate and track the individuals holding these credentials. The ability to effectively manage identities campus-wide improves security to best protect people, property and assets.