Check out this article I co-authored recently on the importance of critical communications:

http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=2627

Your thoughts?

Financial Issues

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, 14 school districts in the state of California have been financially classified as "in especially dire condition." For many of these districts, teacher lay-offs are just the tip of the iceberg. "Schools on this list are now forced to make terrible decisions to cut programs and services that students need or face bankruptcy," said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

Unfortunately, school security budgets in California, and across the nation, are also being negatively impacted. At RETA Security, however, we recommend numerous low-cost/no-cost ways to provide a safer learning environment. For example:

• Better Visitor Management Procedures
• Committing to a "Closed Campus" Practice (or "Close Campus" in Certain Cases)
• Improving/Optimizing Communication Systems
• Undertaking a Collaborative Approach (i.e. Security Committee)

Obviously, some of these recommendations require explanation. Please contact us at info@retasecurity.com for more detail. Please post your ideas, as well.

School Violence Statistics

I recently came across the following statement on governmentvideo.com:

"In the past 10 years, 284 people have been killed in U.S. school-associated violent deaths. Of those, 130 were shot; others were stabbed, beaten to death or committed suicide."

Now, who can identify the number of students that have been killed in U.S. school-associated fires over the last 10 years? How 'bout the last 25 years? How 'bout the last 50 years?
The answer to all of those questions is ZERO! The reason that there have been no fire-related fatalities can only be attributed to the fact that schools must comply with stringent safety codes and standards. Mandates have indeed paid off!

On the other side of the coin, we have yet to benefit from codes and standards that could govern security practices such as visitor management, access control, communications, door hardware, etc.

How much more violence is it going to take until security codes and standards are also in place? While we may not be able to answer that question with certainty, it's high time that schools pursue a proactive approach to protecting students, staff, and visitors!

Your thoughts?

PORTLAND, OR - Visitor management practices are "center stage" in the Portland Public Schools after a Skyline Elementary School student disappeared last Friday during the school's science fair.

KATU.com reports that visitors are now required to sign-in upon entering the school. In addition, school officials are looking into security procedures for releasing students as they leave school.

7-year-old Kyron Horman disappeared last Friday morning. He was last seen walking around with his stepmother to view science fair projects around 8:45 a.m., according to CBS News.

Kyron Horman and his step-mother, Terri Moulton Horman, arrived at Skyline Elementary School around 8 a.m. Friday and attended a science fair at the school. Around 8:45 a.m. Terri said goodbye to Kyron and watched the second-grader walk down the hallway toward his classroom. Police say that the last time the boy was seen was about 9 a.m. At 3:45 p.m., when the school bus arrived at Kyron's stop without him on board, his step-mom called the school. She was told he was marked "absent" by his teacher. She called 9-1-1 just before 4 p.m. and the search effort was launched. Portland schools then sent an automated message to parents in the school district that the boy was missing. Local police walked the school grounds with K-9 tracking teams, searched every room and closet inside the school, and even checked the roof.

How effective are your visitor management practices? How do they change during special events? Please post your thoughts.

CARMEL, IN - According to recent news reports, the family of a 14-year-old Carmel High School student, who alleges being abused by other student athletes, is planning to sue the Carmel Clay School District for $2.2 million. The investigation into the alleged abuse, which was said to have occurred on a school bus and in a locker room, has been going on for months. The four student athletes who have been accused of the abuse were initally arrested and released on bond. They were also suspended from school.

What safety issues and/or questions does a story like this bring to your mind? What measures have you put in place to address the monitoring of difficult areas such as buses and locker rooms?

School Security Attacks - China

CHINA, 05/12 - Eight people were killed and 20 others were injured in a knife attack at a kindergarten in northern China. The attack began at 8 a.m. when a 48-year-old man simply walked into the private school.
At least 17 people have been killed and dozens injured in a series of alleged "copycat" attacks, which began in March. In each case, a middle-aged man acting alone attacked children with knives or tools.
Some speculate that these attacks are the result of lack of physical security measures, some feel they are the result of frustration with corrupt government officials, and others blame the lack of treatment for people suffering from mental illnesses.
What are your thoughts?

Student Involvement in School Security

Here is an exerpt from David Timm's article that addresses how to involve students in the school security program. It appeared in this month's issue of School Planning and Management magazine.

"In security, risk minimization is everything. You can never completely eliminate the possibility of a school shooting or other types of breakdowns in security, but you can make the system as secure as possible by using your resources efficiently and using them cohesively, or as a unit. The most important resource administrators miss when factoring in all of their options to make school security more effective is the student body."

What are your thoughts?