Page 36 - School Planning & Management, July/August 2017

SAFETY & SECURITY { PREPARE AND BE AWARE }
The Secure School Perimeter
Meeting the growing challenge of security in K-12 schools.
By Jim Romeo
WHEN THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION Statistics surveyed schools about security, they found 75 percent of respondents increased their security since
the Sandy Hook incident. The incident took place in 2012, when an active shooter invaded an elementary school in Sandy Hook, Conn.., killing 20 students and six adults.
The incident and other similar renowned incidents have upped the ante on school security, causing many to consider newer, better and faster security solutions to protect lives and prevent such tragic events.
Security and Rapid Communications
Rapid communications have been at the core of school security in light of active shooters and grave circumstances overshadowing the Sandy Hook event and other active shooter events.
Over the years, schools typically inherit safety and secu-
rity technology. Most often, it is an overwhelming burden to maintain, fund and train staff on security technology solutions and rapid communications platforms while keeping up with emergent technology, according to Danielle Myers, the general manager of Status Solutions in Westerville, Ohio, a company that
36 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / JULY/AUGUST 2017
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