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

  • 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

  • Why the Future of Video Security Is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reasons. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • 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.