School Security


Ask the Expert: Bryan Viau

Tragic gang-related events in Chicago and other American cities over the past few months have only focused more public attention on the need to make our nation's schools safe. No child should ever have to fear going to classes because of bullies, weapon-carrying gang members, drug dealers or other criminals from the surrounding community.

School security on a tight budget

Security for All

A passive infrared motion detector with night vision and digital camera has helped reduce copper theft in DPS schools.

Video Surveillance in Schools

District Integrators Learn About Video Surveillance

A typical urban school district can easily have more than 2,500 cameras installed throughout its facilities. Some systems are straightforward, while others can be sophisticated, encompassing advanced surveillance capabilities and utilizing a broad range of surveillance technologies.

empty classroom

Know the Drill

Senate Bill S2518 now requires monthly school security drills for all public and non-public schools in the sate of New Jersey.

University Deploys Biometric Software On Faculty, Student Computers

DigitalPersona Inc. recently announced that Bentley University has deployed the company's software on faculty and student laptops and PCs.

Excelsior Springs HS mascot

Excelsior Springs School District Protects through Detailed Scheduling

Excelsior Springs director of safety and security Tom Mayfield's main priority is to protect the school district's students and staff. AMAG Technology's Symmetry Enterprise Security Management System (SMS) and Symmetry Video System helped to create a safer learning environment for the schools' kids.

Illinois School District Implements IP Video Management Solution From Verint

Verint Systems Inc. recently announced that Troy School District in Illinois has completed implementation of the Nextiva IP video management solution from Verint Video Intelligence Solutions.

AMAG Technology Helps Secure Oregon Community College

AMAG Technology has partnered with Allied Fire & Security and DAP Technologies to provide an integrated security solution to Lane Community College in Eugene, Ore.



gradesheet

Making the Grade

Over the past decade, as a result of tragedies at school and college campuses nationwide, student and staff security has become a high priority. Also in the last 10 years, driven by an increase in the population of school-aged children, new school construction and the renovation of existing facilities have surged.

New York, In Full Glory

ISC East 2009 has to be considered a complete success. Aisles were packed with end users and integrators, and exhibitors had their “A” game on one.

Lessons Learned

When Hurricane Katrina nearly obliterated the city of Pass Christian, Miss., in 2005, the Mississippi gulf school district faced a rebuilding project of enormous proportion.

Candid Camera

In Weber County, nestled next to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, the local school district is home to 50 public schools, which are attended by almost 21,000 students and employ 1,368 full-time teachers. Nearly 850 students attend Sand Ridge Junior High School in Roy, Utah, and with 34 teachers, the teacher to student ratio is about 25:1.

Survey: Schools Still Lacking In Bullying, Violence Prevention

Key to a child's successful education is an environment in which he or she can learn safely. According to a report released today by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, only 26 percent of parents would give their child's high school an "A" for preventing bullying and school violence, and 38 percent of parents would give their child's elementary or junior high an "A."

In Control

York County School Division in Yorktown, Va., has never had a major security problem, and that's the way they want to keep it. To ensure the security of their facility and safety of their students, officials installed security systems in each of their 23 facilities.

Survey: Teachers Want More Emergency Planning, Security Technology To Help Maintain Safety

With more than 53 million students going back to school, a national survey released recently shows that more than one out of 10 teachers believe their school is unprepared to protect kids. The results are part of the second annual ADT Back-to-School Survey conducted by Zogby International.

Portuguese University Designs Own IP Video Surveillance System Using IndigoVision Technology

When the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon, Portugal decided to install campus-wide CCTV, officials chose to design the system themselves using IndigoVision’s IP video technology.

GVI Security Solutions To Provide Video Security For Florida School District

GVI Security Solutions Inc., a provider of video security surveillance solutions featuring the complete Samsung Electronics line of products, announced that the company’s Samsung Electronics cameras have been selected for a video security project by a large Florida school district with more than 50 schools.

Michigan Colleges, RFID Companies Partner To Train Workforce

St. Clair County Community College and Mott Community College in Michigan have announced the development of RFID technology labs and curriculum with Dynamic Computer Corp. and Stratum Global.

Shutting Out Mother Nature

Most school administrators and security integrators don’t spend much time worrying about a hurricane or a tornado’s impact within their district’s classrooms. Yet, James Bell, ASSA ABLOY’s windstorm coordinator, and Corey Schultz, a project manager for PBA Architect, say they are always looking at ways to make schools safer from Mother Nature’s power.

Report: U.S. College Campuses Safer Because Of Information Shared By Virginia Tech

The response to the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting of 23 people by a former graduate student in a lecture hall on Northern Illinois University's campus in DeKalb, Ill., is examined in a 48-page report issued Tuesday by the U.S. Fire Administration. The report discusses actions taken by city and university police, EMTs and fire department units, and hospital personnel.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services
  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.