Planning to improve school safety with an integrated communication system

School safety is a critical concern for many school districts, as administrators aim to make teachers, students, and parents feel safe in their schools. There was a time when schools were considered one of the safest places for our children. Changing times have required districts to take a serious look at how to ensure safety, so that children can learn and explore comfortably.

Threats to school safety and security require an integrated approach that includes a well-designed emergency plan, training materials and designated personnel responsible for executing emergency plans, and a comprehensive plan. communication platform that includes alarms, buzzers, intercom, silent alerts, visual communications, and alert buttons.

When designing your system, key guidelines should be considered. In the first part of this two part series In building a campus emergency system, we’ll focus on what’s involved in designing and planning the system. We’ll also dig into what states are doing to improve security. standards in schools. In the second part, the procedures will be discussed.

Communication system planning

Planning for a unified communication system for emergency notification and response should include a risk assessment to determine the equipment, operating procedures, and personnel needed to meet the objectives of all interested parties. The risk analysis process involves a systematic process of several steps, which includes the formation of a team, the analysis of the buildings and spaces to be protected, the evaluation of potential threats, the identification of specific countermeasures and the development of a plan of risk. emergency response. The risk analysis should consider the dangers of natural disasters, accidental hazards, and malicious threats and/or activities. Countermeasures should mitigate the potential for incidents and minimize the effects of one if it occurs. Communication with emergency services, such as local police and fire departments, as well as parents, should also be considered in the planning process. The documentation of the risk assessment, the emergency response plan and the resulting actions must be regularly reviewed, updated and shared.

Design of communication systems

The communication system design is ideally based on the school’s emergency response plan, which should include procedures for responding to various types of emergencies, such as fire, severe weather, and intruders. The system design must be flexible and scalable, allowing for expansion or modification or adaptability in the event of an unexpected type of emergency event. Redundancy and interoperability are also key. This will ensure that communication can be quickly maintained or restored if a system failure arises.

sound intelligibility

Sound reinforcement design principles are important to ensure effective emergency communications. Intelligibility can be affected by several factors, including background noise, speaker placement, and direct vs. indirect sound. It is important to consider the interface with fire alarm systems and mass notification systems, emergency takeover procedures, and the accessibility of communications for the hearing or visually impaired. Reliability and operational integrity are also crucial considerations in the design and maintenance of school communication systems.

What are the states doing?

Due to the increased focus on school safety, states are allocating money to improve security measures on campus. For example, Texas has proposed a School Safety Standards Rule to “address school safety and ensure minimum school safety standards to address the safety of students and staff alike” in their public schools. This proposed rule requires school systems to have the appropriate components to help improve the safety of school facilities, staff, students, and visitors. This includes a silent panic alert system that can be activated by staff and simultaneously alerts school administrators, law enforcement, and staff.

Florida, New Jersey, and New York have enacted laws requiring panic alert devices in all classrooms, and Oregon is introducing similar legislation, as well as a bill that would require schools to send electronic notifications to parents as soon as it occurs. a security threat.

For districts that do not have state legislation and/or funding to augment security measures already in place, security specific grants are available to assist with investment and implementation of such measures. School Safety.gov‘s Grant Search Tool helps schools and districts find applicable funding opportunities. To help schools and districts navigate grant applications, Boxlight has a free Grant Assistance Program (GAP) that can help coordinators with the process and find additional funding opportunities. To learn more about GAPclick here.

Updating school safety procedures and systems requires serious and often uncomfortable conversations, ongoing and long-term resources and investment, and vigilance. Well-prepared plans and strong systems help everyone feel more comfortable, and learning remains the focus at school. School districts that are “ready for anything” not only ensure the safety, but also the social and emotional well-being of everyone on campus.

To learn how Boxlight solutions, like the award-winning Attention!you can support your school safety plan click here.