Protecting Students and Staff with Advanced School Security Solutions

It’s been over five years since the tragic mass shooting at Santa Fe, TX, high school. Since then, security enhancements have included active shooter buttons placed throughout the school and worn by teachers. Vestibules at school entrances enable school administrators to clear visitors before entering. They’ve also installed metal detectors, and campus security assistants keep an eye on the school district’s network of security cameras.

And, of course, students, parents, and staff continue to wonder, is it enough? Are there additional school security solutions that should be implemented?

At ASAP Security Services, our security company has served Texans for over 70 years. Our podcast is dedicated to speaking with legislators, leading security experts, and school administrators, exploring the complexities of school safety. The following represent some of the recommended strategies. 

SEE ALSO: Key Components of Commercial Security Systems for Schools

Optimizing the Placement of Security Cameras

While school districts have implemented security cameras, their strategic placement is critical in optimizing their uses and effectiveness. Using the best camera type for specific areas, including bullet, dome, and PTZ cameras, is also essential. 

Dome cameras offer discreet surveillance, while PTZ cameras provide extensive coverage and enable users to remotely control the camera’s view, zooming in and panning out. While obvious placements include entrances, hallways, and common areas, additional areas to consider include parking lots, main offices, and satellite locations.

A site survey that addresses all feasible access points can help mitigate potential risks.

AI and Biometrics 

Mike Matranga, the one-time executive director of security for Texas City ISD, discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the effectiveness of image likeness software, also known as facial recognition. Their school district was the first to adopt the usage of this software in the state of Texas. 

While some schools are hesitant due to liability concerns, Matranga notes that adopting the right software and using it strategically, as directed by a third-party expert security firm, prevents these concerns from occurring. As a public school, you have the right and the responsibility to safeguard students and staff, and that includes using AI and biometrics in public settings.

This technology offers a proactive measure. It can detect unusual behavior, including aggressive actions. Schools can also enter images into the software of individuals who exhibit or have in the past exhibited violent behavior or are on watch lists. Using this technology, security personnel at one of his schools received an alert when a person of interest appeared on school grounds. They were able to take him into custody before he reached the front doors.

AI is also used for gun detection, identifying weapons, and sending immediate alerts to school security. To ensure its effectiveness requires, again, correct camera placement, settings, and training.

Effective School Security Solutions

These are just a few of the security solutions schools are turning to in order to enhance their security measures. Additional considerations include two-way communication systems, access control, and gunshot detection. At ASAP Security Services, we work with schools throughout Texas to deter, detect, mitigate, and manage security threats by installing advanced systems with state-of-the-art technologies. To learn more about school security solutions or to schedule a site survey, contact ASAP Security Services today.