As a former police chief, I’ve responded to emergency calls with no context, no floor plan, and no real-time information — only the understanding that a critical situation was unfolding. That has been the standard, but it doesn’t need to be.
Today, we have better tools. Digital safety systems now give schools and first responders shared visibility, real-time communication, and the ability to coordinate proactively.
Some states have taken action and passed legislation like Alyssa’s Law, which requires silent panic alarms in schools, but many still lack a consistent safety standard. Across the country, a large number of school districts still don’t have these tools in place due to budget constraints, staffing limitations, or the logistical challenges of adopting new technology midyear.
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We owe it to our students, teachers, and staff to do more than hope for the safety of their students.
Modernizing Emergency Response in Schools Helps First Responders Act Faster
While active shooter threats often dominate headlines, school safety challenges take many forms, including medical emergencies, gas leaks, campus altercations, and fires. In any scenario, delayed communication, unclear roles, or outdated systems can turn a manageable incident into a preventable crisis.
School districts in states like New Jersey and Ohio have adopted platforms that give first responders real-time access to building layouts, entry points, camera feeds, and direct communication with staff during an emergency. These systems, which integrate with schools’ existing infrastructure, have helped districts cut response times and coordinate more effectively.
A national survey found that more than one-third of students don’t feel safe at school. That fear quietly erodes the conditions for learning. Research shows students who said they felt unsafe at school were more likely to miss class, score lower on standardized tests.
From elementary classrooms to college campuses, students are managing more stress, anxiety, and uncertainty than ever before. If we’re serious about supporting their growth, we have to start embedding safety into the way schools operate every day.
A 5-Step Framework for Enhancing Campus Safety
I’ve worked on both sides, in law enforcement and now as a safety expert, and I understand how heavy this responsibility is. School leaders are asked to protect hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students and staff every day, often without adequate funding or tools. I’ve seen what happens when schools delay action, and the difference it makes when they don’t wait.
If campus safety falls under your leadership year, here’s what deserves your focus.
- Take stock of what’s already in place. In an emergency, who initiates the lockdown, and how quickly can they do it? Do staff know how to activate communication systems, access critical information, and coordinate with responders? You don’t need a full overhaul to make meaningful improvements, but you do need an honest look at your current level of readiness.
- Look into available grants. The School Violence Prevention Program is a key federal resource for funding school safety upgrades, including access control, surveillance systems, communication platforms, and training for law enforcement. It also covers physical improvements like locks, lighting, and emergency alert systems, and can support any measure the COPS Office deems a significant security enhancement. In addition to federal support, many states and local governments offer their own school safety grants, giving districts multiple paths to fund what they need.
- Get students and teachers involved. Make Our Schools Safe (MOSS), a national nonprofit founded after the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, has helped launch student-led safety clubs in high schools across the country. These clubs give students a structured way to participate in safety planning, build awareness among peers, raise funds for safety technology, and support district-wide efforts.
- Choose technology partners who understand schools. Emergencies move fast, and they rarely go as planned. That’s not the time to troubleshoot a confusing interface. Even the most advanced solutions can fall short if they’re too complex for staff to use under pressure. The right system should integrate with your existing infrastructure, be easy to activate, and feel familiar enough that educators can use it without hesitation in a high-stress moment. It’s also worth asking who’s behind the product. Companies with former public safety professionals on their teams can offer practical advice on how to apply and implement the technology effectively in real school environments.
- Advocate and involve other stakeholders. Safety planning shouldn’t fall entirely on the shoulders of principals. Engage your district leadership about what’s lacking, whether that’s updated communication tools, more funding for training, or support applying for grants. Be clear with your board about where gaps exist, and reach out to state legislators when budget limitations are blocking progress.
I’ve seen what happens when schools delay safety upgrades until a crisis forces their hand. It’s reactive, disruptive, and often too late to make a meaningful difference. Safety shouldn’t be an afterthought or a seasonal conversation. The most effective districts take a proactive approach, regularly assessing what’s in place, addressing what’s missing, and ensuring the right people are trained to respond.
We can’t control every threat, but we can control how prepared we are to face it.
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Shannon Torres is customer success manager at 911inform, a board member of the Sandy Hook Foundation, and former police chief of the Borough of Keyport..
Note: The views expressed by guest bloggers and contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Campus Safety.
