Sadly, there has been a need to post a version of
this a number of times on the blog.
But as we were reminded again this week, we can never ignore campus
security.
this a number of times on the blog.
But as we were reminded again this week, we can never ignore campus
security.
In my education leadership career,
I do have some unique experience and expertise in school security. Here
are some things that I recommend you should do to review your campus security
procedures and practices, today. This checklist is quick, practical,
reasonable and actionable.
I do have some unique experience and expertise in school security. Here
are some things that I recommend you should do to review your campus security
procedures and practices, today. This checklist is quick, practical,
reasonable and actionable.
1. Keep your exterior doors and
windows secured at all times. This may
mean that locks need to be replaced and keys need to be inventoried and
redistributed. This should have been done before, do it now. Stop
the practice of people propping doors open when they go outside. Remind
staff and students constantly of the seriousness of exterior door safety. Be
diligent in modeling and monitoring this practice and dealing with those that
forget and break protocol.
windows secured at all times. This may
mean that locks need to be replaced and keys need to be inventoried and
redistributed. This should have been done before, do it now. Stop
the practice of people propping doors open when they go outside. Remind
staff and students constantly of the seriousness of exterior door safety. Be
diligent in modeling and monitoring this practice and dealing with those that
forget and break protocol.
2. Review and practice alert,
evacuation, and shelter-in-place procedures,
regularly (and not just on the last day of the month). Immediately stop the
practice of warning staff when there is going to be a drill. It defeats
the purpose of the drill and creates the learned behavior of “checking to see
if it is a real emergency.” Also, there should be drills conducted on days when
campus leadership is not available. Emergencies can occur at any
time. Practice accordingly.
evacuation, and shelter-in-place procedures,
regularly (and not just on the last day of the month). Immediately stop the
practice of warning staff when there is going to be a drill. It defeats
the purpose of the drill and creates the learned behavior of “checking to see
if it is a real emergency.” Also, there should be drills conducted on days when
campus leadership is not available. Emergencies can occur at any
time. Practice accordingly.
3. Keep your head on a swivel. Stay alert. When it comes to their
surroundings, most adults operate in a fog throughout the day. This is where
you can actually use students to help with security. They are much more
alert than we give them credit for. Teach them to monitor our shared
surroundings (visitor badges, unlocked doors, open windows, damaged equipment,
unsafe conditions, etc.) and quietly report issues to their teacher. Make it a
game.
surroundings, most adults operate in a fog throughout the day. This is where
you can actually use students to help with security. They are much more
alert than we give them credit for. Teach them to monitor our shared
surroundings (visitor badges, unlocked doors, open windows, damaged equipment,
unsafe conditions, etc.) and quietly report issues to their teacher. Make it a
game.
4. When something seems off,
listen to your gut. If
your gut is wrong, all you did was take an extra precaution. If your gut
is right, you prevented or reduced the severity of a difficult situation.
listen to your gut. If
your gut is wrong, all you did was take an extra precaution. If your gut
is right, you prevented or reduced the severity of a difficult situation.
5. Plan for the worst. Pray for
the best. We should not turn our campuses
into armed camps and we cannot live in fear. But we should be prudent and
take reasonable precautions.
the best. We should not turn our campuses
into armed camps and we cannot live in fear. But we should be prudent and
take reasonable precautions.
I hope that you find this
checklist useful and I pray that you will never have to confirm its
effectiveness on your campus.
checklist useful and I pray that you will never have to confirm its
effectiveness on your campus.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn…
- Call Jo at (832)
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