Always Improving

During the spring of every year, Honeywell Building Solutions hosts a symposium for end users, making them available to invited members of the media.

For two years now, I have listened to numerous stories from end users who swear by Honeywell’s products, but mostly they regale their successes because of the company’s customer service. One such example is the Penn-Harris-Madison (PHM) school corporation in Indiana.

It took a bit for me to get used to the term “school corporation,” but I think you’ll understand what I mean by reading the cover story inside this issue of Campus Security and Life Safety.

My contact for the story, Mike Seger, is the director of safety and student services. He lives and breathes this stuff, with a passion for keeping students, staff and teachers safe and secure. I thought it was just Mike, but exploring further, the sentiment for security at PHM is woven through every fiber of the school corporation.

In talking with Jerry Thacker, PHM superintendent, the prevailing thought is that the school wants to be the best at everything they do.

Okay, so they have a great high school football program, and also mentioned a phenomenal music program. The point, however, is that safety and security begat students who have an environment conducive to learning and prospering.

“After Columbine,” Thacker said, “the school corporation ratcheted up school security.”

Because of this, more than 70 percent of the students in the district are involved in extracurricular activities. Same goes for the school at large.

PHM also acts as a host training site for active shooter training, involving law enforcement, fire departments and EMT staff on every level.

Thanks to Honeywell for making this end user available; both you and I can learn a little something more about the security environment in a school setting.

This article originally appeared in the November 2013 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.