When local law enforcement responded to a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, it took police officers one hour, 14 minutes, and eight seconds to enter the classroom and engage the shooter.
The deadliest school shooting in Texas history, Uvalde served as a case study for both the Texas House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Justice highlighting several shortcomings in school security, including the absence of rapid access for law enforcement entering the school and difficulties in accessing locked doors once inside. In its 600-plus page report that examined the shooting, The Department of Justice stated, “It is now a best practice and should be an industry standard to have a KnoxBox in every school.”
As a result, the state passed Texas House Bill 3 (HB 3), which mandated that by this past August, all K-12 schools have a proper lockbox with keys and credentials for first responders, ensuring they can gain immediate access to all areas of the school property in the event of an emergency.
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The ruling states that all Texas K-12 public facilities “must: (A) include one or more distinctive, exterior secure master key box(es) designed to permit emergency access to both law enforcement agencies and emergency responder agencies from the exterior (for example, a KnoxBox) at a location designated by the local authorities with applicable jurisdiction; or (B) provide all local law enforcement electronic or physical master key access to the building(s).”
Key boxes are also recommended by NFPA 3000, the world’s first active shooter standard, developed collaboratively by law enforcement, fire service, and emergency medical services representatives, as well as the Partnership Alliance for School Safety (PASS), which offers the most comprehensive information available on best practices for securing school facilities.
“Ensuring that first responders can access school facilities without delay is a critical component of emergency preparedness,” says Chuck Wilson, PASS Vice Chair and CEO Emeritus National Systems Contractors Association. “The implementation of lockboxes is a vital step toward enhancing the safety of students and staff.”
What is a Lockbox?
A lockbox, or key box, is a secure safe that holds master keys (internal/external doors, padlocks, gates, etc.), access cards, and floor plans to a building, allowing quick access for fire departments, emergency medical services, and police. Posted in strategic locations for optimal tactical response, it can only be opened by authorized emergency personnel with a unique key that is specific to that jurisdiction. This ensures that only first responders can access it.
All the lockboxes within the school district or county could be accessed with the same key. When an emergency occurs, responders can quickly locate a lockbox, like a KnoxBox, and enter the building without delay. Depending on the size of the city, the fire and police departments might share a lockbox or each department may have its own.
What are the Benefits of a Lockbox?
The obvious and primary benefit of a lockbox is quick entry. The first responder is not sorting through a collection of keys, dealing with a combination lock under adrenalin, nor having to go find a second set of keys for internal doors. The firefighter, medic, or law enforcement officer is also not waiting on the arrival of the facility key holder or breaching equipment, which are two major reasons for access delays. The box is not dependent on batteries or power, and can be installed wherever the best access point is located, as defined by responders.
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A lockbox provides schools with an affordable system, which costs less than breaching equipment for multiple responding officers, eliminates forced entries and costly property damage, reduces potential injuries to law enforcement personnel, and lowers workers’ compensation claims. In a traditional master key scenario, if the master key is lost, the entire building (or multiple buildings) must be rekeyed and new keys distributed. Boxes utilizing eKeys (electronic keys) have the advantage of being deactivated if one is lost or stolen.
Another advantage of a lockbox is that it contains both external and internal keys, as well as access cards and even layouts to each campus. Buildings that strictly rely on access cards may want to consider a key box for numerous reasons, including the cards not working when there is no power, being misplaced by law enforcement, or failure to work due to software updates.
Texas Education Security Districts Have Begun Audits
In Texas, the Education Security Districts have begun visiting schools to see if they meet all of HB3’s regulatory requirements. So far, no schools have been shut down, but they are getting warnings if they are not compliant.
The mandate requires that the lockbox solution is accessible by law enforcement. Many schools currently have a lockbox for the fire department use, which technically, can be used by law enforcement. However, typically fire departments are reluctant to share the key due to liability concerns (one lost key may result in costly and timely re-keying of boxes at commercial businesses around the city or county). Additionally, law enforcement will typically arrive at a hostile event first and cannot wait to be given access by the fire department.
Districts also need to ensure that all appropriate jurisdictions have access to the box. In Uvalde, 23 different jurisdictions arrived on scene, and yet it still took more than an hour to get to the shooter. Therefore, it is a good practice for law enforcement to also have their own lockbox key and program.
Other States May Pass Similar Legislation
Currently, while Texas and North Carolina are the only two states that require a separate lockbox for public safety officials, there are five states – New Jersey, Utah, New York, Tennessee and Florida – that have enacted a version of Alyssa’s Law (wearable school panic buttons). Advocates will be asking for the bills to be amended to include a lockbox provision. Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Nebraska have proposed but not enacted a version of Alyssa’s Law, and proponents will be asking for lockbox amendments there as well.
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The tragic events at Robb Elementary School have prompted critical legislative changes aimed at enhancing the safety and security of K-12 schools across Texas. By mandating the use of lockboxes, the state is taking a proactive approach to ensure that first responders can swiftly access school facilities during emergencies.
This shift in policy reflects an important recognition of the lessons learned from past incidents, reinforcing the need for efficient security protocols that prioritize the safety of students and staff. As other states consider similar measures, it is vital to continue examining and implementing effective strategies that facilitate rapid response times and improve overall school safety.
By fostering collaboration among law enforcement, school administrators, and safety organizations, we can work toward creating safer learning environments for all.
Neal Zipser is the Industry Affairs Manager at Knox Company. KnoxBoxes are available for active shooter incidents and other hostile events that warrant rapid access to locked doors. For more information, visit: https://knoxbox.com/Products/knox-entry-for-schools.
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.
