10 Times K-12 Schools Screwed Up Security (And 5 Times They Nailed It)
A security consultant took these photos during actual site assessments at various K-12 schools throughout the country.
In-person learning is back in full swing for some school districts as coronavirus cases trend downward and more people continue to get vaccinated. Understandably, as it relates to campus safety, much of the remainder of the school year will focus on keeping students and staff healthy by taking precautions such as wearing masks and social distancing.
However, as we have reiterated many, many times in the past year, other aspects of school safety and security mustn’t be forgotten. From fire safety and potential chemical hazards to egress and visitor policies, there are many considerations when it comes to keeping campuses safe.
One way to ensure your school or district is taking necessary steps to limit liabilities and protect constituents is through a security and vulnerability assessment (SVA), which is a systematic, physical examination of the interior of school buildings, perimeter/parking lots and the surrounding areas.
CAN YOU SPOT THE MISTAKES IN THESE SVA PHOTOS?
Take a look at the photos in the slideshow to see if you can pick out the mistakes. We’ve also included a handful of images of schools that took proper safety measures to protect students and staff. While areas of campus security that need improvement within a school or district are often the main focus, many of you deserve recognition for your tireless and continued work to keep students safe, which is why we wanted to include both.
All of the photos in this slideshow have been provided to us by Gary Sigrist, CEO and president of Safeguard Risk Solutions and a retired school district safety director. Sigrist is a trusted partner of Campus Safety and conducts dozens of SVAs each year.
Can’t get enough? Here are the links to our previous SVA photo installments:
- 12 School Safety Mistakes Found During Site Assessments
- 10 School Safety Dos and Don’ts Caught on Camera by Security Consultants
- 13 Times K-12 Schools Got Security Very, Very Wrong (And 6 Times They Got It Right)
- Can You Spot the Mistakes in These Campus Security Photos?
- D’oh! Don’t Make These 10 Ridiculous Campus Security Mistakes
Do you have any examples you’re willing to share from your own site assessments? We would keep the school(s) anonymous. Send your photos to amy.rock@emeraldx.com.
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About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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