Put school security measures at the forefront of district budgets

Key points:

School security is a priority for educators, district administrators, parents and students, which makes security technology solutions essential to protect school environments and people within them during significant and more minor incidents.

According to him National Education Statistics CenterDuring the 2021–22 school year, public schools registered more than 1 million incidents, approximately 857,500 of which were violent incidents.

As the school districts prepare for the budget period of the 2025-2026 school year, the way in which security plans are approaching and implemented require a strategic and proactive effort that cannot be taken lightly. No matter the size of the district, it is essential that security plans and protocols are updated, standardized and meet the needs of the community.

SCHOOL SAFETY IMPACTS THE RETENTION OF THE MASTERS

School security translates into teacher satisfaction and retention. While teachers should completely focus on educating their students, a national survey found that 80% of teachers think of their own physical security when they are at work, and 45% I have considered leaving or having left their work because they feel insecure. According to him Learning Policy InstituteOn average, the largest school districts can spend about $ 25,000 to replace a single teacher, a number that breaks the budget when the retention is low.

It is important that teachers feel heard when defining, implementing and practicing security plans and protocols. Training is also important. With training, teachers can administer better incidents or emergencies that may arise. In fact, 48 percent Educators say that their ability to obtain immediate help from administrators, nurses, school resource officers (SRO) or emergency specialists is the most important determinant of a positive result when an incident arises.

Although it is critical for each school, and particularly in larger districts, the adoption of emergency operating plans (EOP) and security protocols, such as the standard response protocol (SRP) or the incident command system (ICS ), is fundamental. With these standardized responses, teachers and administrators not only feel prepared in case of emergency, but also have the confidence to know that in all school locations, the protocols are the same and emergency responders are prepared.

Security measures can directly affect student performance

Nearly 85 percent Educators believe that school security directly affects student performance.

He National Education Statistics Center He discovered that during the 2020–21 school year, 32 percent of public school teachers reported a disruptive behavior of the students and 37 percent pointed out that the delay class and jumps interfered with the time of instruction. In addition, in a survey of Members of the American Federation of Teachers19 percent of teachers reported two to three hours of lost instructional time every week and 17 percent reported four or more hours of time lost a week due to students' disruptive behavior.

In summary, behavior interruptions are added to more than three weeks of school, which can have a deep effect on students' ability to meet the basic requirements of their curriculum, regardless of that exceeding those requirements.

With the implementation of strong security measures, teachers reduce the necessary time to address incidents and focus their efforts in teaching.

What should the districts look for as budget conversations advance?

For next school year, districts should carefully consider how their teachers feel and how security procedures are amplified and communicated. The combination of robust security plans and proven security solutions can reinforce the confidence, satisfaction and retention of teachers, all of which is important for the results of a district.

Subsidies can help school districts mitigate costs to implement solid security technologies. District and school leaders must know the options available, including examples and best practices of other districts, and identify key considerations, such as campus coverage, accessibility and other requirements.

By understanding their safety and support options, and listening to the contributions of teachers, personnel, parents and students, the districts can make informed decisions and invest in tools that will have a positive impact and show a real return on the investment.