Expert Dan Alvarez expressed his agreement with this sentiment in a single sentence, “No to firearms on campus unless used by law enforcement personnel.” Expert Stephen Hoban expressed his similar feeling that “attempting to out-gun [these rare incidents] seems a bit wild west,” and added that he feels the report “serve[s] the interests of the NRA more than school safety and security.”
Still, at least one expert, Mike Coleman, was tentatively open to the idea, saying:
“I think this is a matter of local concern as a school is a reflection of the local community and their values. If the local community understands the value and the risk involved and [has a] school staff that are willing to carry a weapon and take its responsibilities on, then it can be a good thing.”
It appears to be a situation in which risk and benefit must be carefully balanced. The logistics of implementing an armed school personnel program may prove tricky as well, as noted by expert Sean Spellecy, who challenged the feasibility of such a task with his remark:
“Ask the insurance companies that currently insure schools what this will do to the school’s premiums, and whether or not they will even offer to continue to insure.”
In general, it appears that all the experts have a long list of security measures they consider safer and more effective that they would like to see implemented long before our schools resort to arming teachers.
What does a “safe school” look like?
So, what to do? Amidst the emotionally charged conversations about school violence taking place at every dinner table in the United States, we are fortunate to have security experts who can provide some semblance of clarity as our nation’s schools move forward in their efforts to keep our school children safe. The specific ingredients for a safer school vary from expert to expert, but several key components seemed to be mutually agreed upon by all as an overall good idea for most schools. Here is what we saw our experts saying, over and over again:
- 2 way radios for all staff to communicate
- A secure (locked), monitored entrance
- Closed Circuit TVs that are constantly monitored in real time
- ID cards worn by all staff at all times
- Visitors ID’ed and escorted in and out of the building
- Competent supervision of students by staff, especially during outdoor activities
- A thorough assessment by an expert security consultant of the school’s security liabilities including recommendations regarding how to amend them AND:
- Thorough and frequent training of all staff regarding how to implement the recommended security measures
- Frequent drills of all different kinds of emergencies so that staff and students can practice what to do if an emergen
cy does occur
Most of our experts stressed the need for school personnel to remain vigilant in their efforts and be intolerant of laziness or apathy in the application of security protocol. Former Secret Service Agent Joe LaSorsa fretted that money is being wasted in some areas of school security, explaining that “monies spent on upgrades are a waste [when] they are not implemented and managed properly.” Fellow expert Ed Clarke agreed that generally, money should be funneled towards staff development in favor of technology improvement, stating:
“One area of concern is that schools and school districts tend to over spend on enhanced physical security measures such as security camera and CCTV systems… funds should be allocated for on-going staff training in school safety/security and emergency preparedness.”
As with most things, balance is key. School districts must be choosey about their spending when it comes to increasing security in response to the Sandy Hook shootings. If money is spent on security upgrades, the school must also ensure that funds are available to support a highly trained, practiced staff to utilize them. As we all attempt to move on from this tragedy and arm ourselves against another, let us all keep Sandy Hook Elementary School and the city of Newtown, Connecticut in our thoughts and prayers.
Report provided by 2MCCTV Security, www.2mcctv.com, (877) 926-2288
The experts consulted for this article were Dan Alvarez, Safe Schools RMS; Randy Atlas, Atlas Safety & SEcurity Design Inc.; Ed Clarke, Clark Consulting Group, Mike Coleman, QDS Communications Inc.; Michael Dorn, Safe Havens International; David Fullerton, Shergroup USA; Ron Garrison, Garrison Associates; Mark Harris, Harris Digital Communications; Stephen Hoban, Hoban Enterprises LLC; Casey King, Cedar Ridge Elementary School; Joseph A. LaSorsa, J.A. LaSorsa & Associates; Michael Minieri, Minieri Associates; Bo Mitchell, 911 Consulting; Sean Spellecy, NewDawn Security; and Linda Watson, Whirlaway Group LLC.
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