Security is Part of Day-Care Concerns
- By Ralph C. Jensen
- Aug 03, 2007
EVERY time I drive past a
Kindercare Learning Center, I have fond memories of their role in raising my youngest son. That was back in the day when security wasn’t much of an issue.
Security is a growing concern at day-care centers these days, especially when parents and care center staff members deal with positive identification issues. The issues of security range from custody disputes to the threat of child abductions and terrorism.
Recently, in Pembroke Pines and Plantation, Fla., Tutor Time Child Care implemented a biometric system to ensure safety and security for the children they are caring for. According to Renee Johnson, district manager of Tutor Time, “The parents love it.”
But the biggest question parents ask before enrolling their child is “Is my child safe?”
Ten years ago, and in my case 20 years ago, the questions were about playground equipment and the competency of the teachers. That has changed.
According to Geoff Still, director of finance and operations at the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies at Nova Southeastern University, the trend of asking questions is creating a need for more personalized security systems. The change is, in part, due to the times we live in. Many day-care centers have surveillance cameras, and some have a buzzer at the front door with an alarm at the back door.
At the Jack & Jill Children’s Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a photo ID is required each time a parent picks up a child. Jack & Jill also use surveillance cameras and door buzzers. A growing number of child custody disputes have spilled over into the way the center operates. Unfortunately, the child-care centers are caught in the middle of the disputes.
Using biometrics at Tutor Time, a parent’s fingerprint is scanned and then converted into a series of numbers, equivalent to a bar code. That number is an assigned to a child, providing access to the parent or a guardian. Parents must enter a digital code on a keypad to enter the building and then must use a sensor to read the finger biometric. If the system matches, the door is unlocked.
The system does not store the actual set of fingerprints, which helps to quell privacy concerns; it’s a number of key identifiers from the biometric that influences access.
There are a few security concerns parents should ask when deciding where to place their pre-schoolers in day care. Is there restricted access to the classrooms and play areas? Is there a security fence around the playground and outside perimeter? Are there surveillance cameras monitoring indoor and outdoor activity? What is the procedure regarding adding or deleting names of people authorized to pick up a child?
By investigating and being aware of these procedures, parents will have a better understanding of the security of their child—and will hopefully be more at ease.
About the Author
Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.