In today’s American schools and colleges, it’s a tough call for administrators to know what is best for school security, and the safety of students and staff alike.
How much do you spend on school campus security?
Well, I know for a fact that there are schools in the States spending a fortune, as much as several million dollars in some schools.
Are the items purchased really required?
For the time that I’ve lived in the States and have a child going to school here, I’m aware of unscrupulous commercial security companies basically preying on vulnerable schools who are simply looking for professional help in keeping their campus safe.
What better security for profit than that, to the company hell bent on making money at all costs?
Armored glass, guns, ammunition, sirens, alert flashing lights, high tech cameras, high tech electronic passes, electronic gates, electronic door openers, and the list goes on, and on, and on…
However, before dealing with the individual from the security company. Do your homework, ask each other in your school, do we really need this, and why exactly.
I know of schools and colleges in the States that have spent a lot of money on kit, yet that location can still host the likes of a mass shooting…and here’s why:
There isn’t a school or college in America safe from a shooting. For the simple reason that guns and ammunition are readily available all over the country. The shooter is invariably someone from that school or college, presently or past. Therefore they need to get in and out of the campus easily, multiplied by the hundreds of other students and staff. After all, those very locations are all a place of education, not a place of incarceration.
I’ve seen way too much money wasted on items, where the security rep has come into the vulnerable campus with the great sales pitch, sold the gear, and walked away with the profits…yet the campus is still today extremely vulnerable.
School and college security is now a multi billion dollar industry. There is an annual expo in the States just to cover schools and colleges.
So, those of you who are in a position to propose updates to school and college security (which is anyone with a child/student at the campus, as well as members of the board of education, members of staff, local law enforcement supporting their local campus) please, please, please look at whether you really need new or more enhanced equipment. Or do you simply need to update your drills from what may be a simple lock down procedure that your venue has carried out for years…to the more realistic and proven options based drills of Run, Hide and Fight?
The latter won’t just save thousands of dollars, it will also save many lives.
Bob Shepherd 
Did you ever offer your expert advice to your child’s school and did they take you up on it?
I did Paul…and after some time, they have.
I agree that many Security Companies are profit orientated. Notwithstanding at the end of the day a business has to make profit to survive. I understand the cost of security will be passed on to the parents and/or guardians. Quotations from several companies with recommendations probably is the best way forward.
I suggest Security Equipment is needed it should be limited to include some or all the following options:
Access Control. Surveillance at entrances, door trap, permanent guard with monitoring equipment. Minimize entrances for greater control.
CCTV on all floors limited to corridors and entrance points. Linked to Police or a Security Response Company.
Covert armed security workers employed has gardeners or janitors.
Registration of all visitors and mandatory wearing of same.
I used to own and run my own Security Company which I recently retired from. I always gave my clients options and left them to choose within their budgets.