Page 68 - Security Today, March/April 2023

CoverStory
PASS Guidelines Provide Advice on Safely Securing K–12 Schools
As security professionals, we have an immense responsi- bility to protect people, places, and things across many different sectors. This responsibility feels especially cru- cial in K–12 schools. Fortifying them against emerging threats while still maintaining a nurturing learning envi- ronment is complex, challenging, and ever-evolving.
There are many effective approaches and technological solutions available today that can help overcome these challenges. Assessing which ones are the best fit for a school requires due diligence by a cross-functional security planning team of key stakeholders. That’s why districts are taking a more holistic approach to security plan- ning, with greater coordination among people, departments, and technology partners. Many are also benefiting from the vast experi- ence and insights that the education, public safety, and security com- munities have to offer.
How PASS Came to Pass
An inspiring way the industry has come together to support this common mission is through the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS). Brand-agnostic, PASS provides a wealth of authoritative information about how to make effective use of proven K–12 security practices and technologies, as well as how to make more informed spending and training decisions.
Catalyzed by the tragedy of Sandy Hook, PASS was established in 2014 by the security profession to address the education community’s concern about how to better secure schools. Spearheaded by the National Systems Contractors Association and the Security Industry Association, the goal was to form a partnership among stakeholders who volunteer their time and expertise to help ensure school systems invest in the right security solutions, regardless of brand.
Within a year of its inception, the alliance released the first edition of the PASS Safety and Security Guidelines for K–12 Schools, devel- oped by subject matter experts from education, public safety, and the security industry. As the sixth edition nears completion, these easy-to- understand and easy-to-implement “guidelines” continue to provide the most comprehensive information available on best practices and technology categories for securing school facilities.
The fifth edition, released in late 2020, built further upon the guidelines’ foundation with a focus on best practices for architectural elements and the use of communications systems for enhancing emergency response capabilities. Just over 100 pages, it also included a section on enhanced technologies piloted by schools, such as vape detection and passive weapons screening technology.
Updates are made as conditions and events unfold, solutions emerge, and policies and procedures are enacted. PASS also publishes an ongoing flow of high-value articles, white papers, and school secu- rity news on its website.
To illustrate just how valuable PASS has become, its content and information have been shared with agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Education, the School Safety Task Force, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agen- cy. PASS has developed strong relationships with these agencies, and
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