Several school district security directors I have been working with recently have mentioned that structural policy and decision making have continually been an issue for their districts. They point out that until and unless the top security official for a campus organization is properly placed within the structure of the organization and regularly involved with strategic decision-making, difficulties will assuredly arise.
Though this is a basic concept, each director still faces significant challenges because that type of structure is not in place in their school systems. Though it is often difficult to improve these structural concepts due to personalities, protection of turf and responsibility and other factors that sometimes exist, it is important to continue to seek opportunities to change these types of situations.
For those campus safety leaders who are fortunate enough to be able to work in a properly structured organization, count your blessings. For those who are not so fortunate, keep the faith, do your best and seek the opportunity to affect positive change if it presents itself.
My hat is off to those campus safety, security and emergency preparedness leaders who have to contend with structural challenges that make it much harder for them to serve their organizations as well as they would like to.
