Case Study: 'Round the Clock School Security
A new electronic lock system keeps this Miami-Dade public charter school safe and secure 24/7 while eliminating the costs associated with re-keying.
Mater Academy High School located in Hialeah Gardens, Fla., is no slouch when in comes to academics. With a 95 percent graduation rate, it has been honored in both Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report magazines, and has been recognized as one of our nation’s top 400 high schools. But in addition to focusing on scholastic excellence, the academy has put a great deal of effort into safety.
“We were becoming uncomfortable with the level of security at our school and felt our perimeters were not as secure as we would like them to be,” says Jorge Macho, Mater Academy’s IT security manager. “Mater Academy is never closed entirely. Like most high schools, there are people coming and going at all times. It’s not uncommon for our janitors to be on duty cleaning up after ball-games and other school events into the early hours of the morning. Also, Miami-Dade Community College regularly uses the school’s classroom wings for evening classes.”
Lost Mechanical Keys Proved Costly
An area of particular concern for safety and security was the school’s mechanical key system. With the former system, each time someone lost a key, campus staff had to re-key classroom doors and the other affected areas. The work had to be done by contractors and was expensive. Also, keys were being duplicated at local hardware stores, so campus officials had no way to account for all the keys that might be in circulation.
“We needed an access control system that would allow us to dictate who and when someone accesses our classrooms, offices and other sensitive areas,” says Macho.
After researching many options, the campus chose the CyberLock electronic lock system because of its affordability and the security features it offered. Mater Academy officials also solicited the help of Practical Products Group (PPG), an access control integration company located in Orlando, Fla. PPG staff came on site and worked closely with campus staff.
“They gave us the support we required to install the system and provided the training our staff needed to operate the system,” says Macho. “The transition to CyberLock went smoothly because the system required little effort to install. All we had to do was replace the cores in our existing door locks with CyberLock electronic cylinders.”
There are at least 200 CyberLocks installed throughout the school. Mater Academy plans to expand the CyberLock system to include a new two-story building annex when construction is completed.
New System Controls Access Privileges
Mater Academy has issued 150 electronic keys to staff and teachers. Each key contains that individual’s access permissions. Teachers’ keys are programmed to be active only during school hours. “The electronic keys can’t be duplicated,” says Macho. “If someone loses a key, we can quickly block it from accessing any locks, so our expenses associated with re-keying have been completely eliminated. All those missing keys we had out there in circulation are no longer a threat.”
“CyberLock has minimized the security risks from frequent turnover in the janitorial department,” adds Macho. Each janitor’s key contains the specific access privileges they need to do their job. The audit report of activity from the electronic locks and keys helps school administrators when security issues arise.
Macho says the electronic lock system has raised the level of security in the school, providing the access and key control the campus requires. Additionally, it works hand-in-hand with the school’s wired-in Pelco camera system.
“We have 92 cameras placed in strategic locations in hallways, computer labs, and other areas inside and outside the school,” says Macho. “At any time, our school’s principal, Judith Marty, and any of our five assistant principals can view ongoing camera activity from desktop computers in their offices,” says Macho.
Procedures Enhance System’s Effectiveness
Mater Academy has implemented procedures and systems to deter and minimize its exposure to incidents and keep students and teachers safe. Visitors cannot freely walk into the school. When visitors approach the campus, they must go through a check-in process. Their driver licenses are scanned into the computer for verification, and they are issued ID badges. Next, they are escorted by a school security officer. Additionally, campus security staff regularly walk the hallways and the perimeter of the school grounds.
Mater Academy has a plan-of-action in the event of a threat. Officials follow a protocol established by the Dade Country School District that is tied into the City of Hialeah Gardens Police Department. If there is an incident, the school goes into lock down to ensure that every child is secure in his or her classroom. Fire and lock-down drills are held once a month. A local police officer patrols the hallways of the school during school days.
With a strong commitment to providing a high-quality education while maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for students and teachers, Mater Academy will continue to excel academically and maintain its stature as one of our nation’s top-rated high schools.
Campus at a Glance
Mater Academy High School is a Miami-Dade Public Charter School located in Hialeah Gardens, Fla. The academy has 2,800 students, grades six-12.
The campus’ vision is “to provide an innovative, challenging curriculum in a safe learning environment that promotes a philosophy of respect and high expectations for all students, parents, faculty and staff.” To reach its academic goals, the school has an aggressive college assistance program that includes educating students and their parents on the opportunities that a college education provides and instructing them on what is required in preparation for college.
Preparation for the school’s intensive upper-level programs begins when a student enters sixth grade. With this early grounding in academics and a high level of parent involvement, Mater Academy consistently has students that graduate with AA Degrees right out of high school. Parents and staff work together to ensure a happy, safe and productive learning experience. This has created a paradigm shift as the school has a graduation rate that exceeds 95 percent.
Andy Hilverda is Vice President of Videx Inc. He can be reached at (541) 758-0521 or sales@videx.com.
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