Making the Grade
Customized solutions benefit students and staff alike.
- By Bill Fitzhenry
- Dec 01, 2009
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. As a result, school administrators
look to the security industry for comprehensive security solutions
that reduce security risks while providing critical security tools when
a security breach does occur. Leading these efforts are electronic security
providers who have decades of experience working in the unique
education security space.
Outfitting and protecting tens of thousands of school campuses
across the nation remains at the forefront of the electronic security
industry. With the education market forecast by many experts to be
one of the fastest growing vertical markets, and in a position to benefit from recent government stimulus infusions, professional security
providers are needed to partner with school administrators as they
apply today's advanced security technology to school campuses.
Understanding that school security needs and applications are
unique and specific, a high level of security experience and expertise
is critical to the success of developing and implementing a security
program that reduces risk, improves security and safety, and helps to
reduce operating costs and operations.
Advanced Security
Eastern York School District, located in central Pennsylvania, covers
six rapidly growing communities in York County. With this population
growth, a new high school facility was necessary—with updated
security technology.
The school district installed Sonitrol Audio Impact technology for
its intrusion protection. Sonitrol's unique advanced audio technology
is provided nationwide, exclusively by Stanley Convergent Security
Solutions and an authorized network of Sonitrol franchise partners.
The Eastern York School District is a long-time customer and strong
advocate of Stanley CSS's advanced audio intrusion protection.
The first objective in the multiple-phase development project for
Eastern York's new security system was to protect the new building
from intrusion. The main challenge was to keep the installed security
solution both operational and flexible as the project phases were implemented.
At every point in the construction phase, there needed to
be a complete and functional security system protecting the facility,
as well as students and faculty, with ample expansion capabilities.
With extensive experience and success in working with audio impact
technology, the school chose to install the flexible Sonitrol Plus
system in campus buildings. This preplanned approach to security
applications with built-in expansion capability was critical in getting
the project installation finished on time, on budget and with all
compliance requirements. By using Stanley's audio protection, the
district was able to provide intrusion technology with the highest
documented apprehension rate and the lowest false alarm rate in
the industry.
"Audio verification was a major factor in choosing an intrusion
detection system," said Todd Hoover, Eastern York's director of facilities.
"Being able to use audio technology to hear and apprehend
intruders is important to us and critical to the success of our security
program."
Integrated Protection
The district also needed to implement an access control solution that
was seamlessly integrated into the intrusion system so a single swipe of
an access card could control access to an area also arming, disarming
or bypassing the intrusion protection system. By designing a system
with this type of flexibility and control, Sonitrol provided an integrated
security solution to Eastern York, giving them maximum protection
with maximum flexibility.
Command of access control systems is Web-based, and the director
of facilities and his team have constant control of all users and
campus access. The ease of use and continuity of the intrusion and
access control systems allows for total integration of access and intrusion
protection, giving the district complete command and control
of its security operation.
Environment Friendly
The final phase of the system was the implementation of a complete
video surveillance system that deterred, captured and documented
unwanted activity on and around the entire school campus. Stanley
CSS designed and installed a 120-camera surveillance system across
the campus, paying particular attention not to impact the aesthetic of
the forward-designed building architecture and engineering.
The security results have been praised for being comprehensive,
non-intrusive and flexible in meeting the goals of the diverse users
and security needs. Hoover and his administrators have complete
control of the functionality of the system and are satisfied, not only
with the security protection, but also with the ease
of use in performing daily operating tasks.