Inequality in School Security

Inequality in School Security

You and I both could literally name hundreds of security products ranging in price and objectives solved that schools are deploying to make their campus safer. It seems there is no balance, though, when it comes to every school in American having access to the same types of security products, which is a bit disheartening. The following illustrates the end of both spectrums: one where money is no object and one where apparently money is a huge issue.

When students, faculty, staff and visitors walk into DuBois Area High School, they can expect the same security scene as any U.S. airport. Metal detectors line the entrance way, acting as a barrier to entry, searching for weapons such as guns, knives or sharp instruments. The good news at the school, however, is the wait time – the process takes less than 30 minutes for over 1,000 students to pass through with enough time to arrive at first period class without being tardy. (Wish I could say the same for airports. I wonder how many missed flights are due to long waits in the security line?)

The five detectors are manned by staff and school police officers with the goal of ruling out any possible weapons to keep students, staff and visitors safe.

Janice Bart, officer in charge, said that she could think of no better way of using the funds considering the age of the high school building. She also noted that the school’s security plan includes:

  • Safety screeners;
  • Investment of time;
  • A proper plan based on the uniqueness of the campus; and
  • Hard work.

The story at Tupelo Public School District is quite different. The school board recently voted to authorize the 18 school security officers to carry pepper spray during the upcoming school year. These officers are state-certified employees stationed at various campuses throughout the district. (Deploying a chemical agent versus a metal detector? Wow! It’s easy to see the huge difference in school security budgets just by analyzing the “technology” that a campus uses.)

This district requested that the Mississippi Department of Education’s Division of Safe and Orderly Schools conduct a safety and facilities assessment to identify areas of improvement. One of the recommendations was allowing security officers to carry pepper spray, which gives them another resource to use to maintain orderly conduct and safety, especially when there are large crowds, at athletic events, for example. And, because the school district is holding the officers accountable, the proper resources must be made available to do their job.

The officers will carry small canisters of pepper spray and all have attended training that includes each one getting sprayed to fully understand the chemical’s effect. This will encourage the officers to only use it when absolutely necessary.

The top priority is safety for students, faculty and staff.

Both schools have the exact same goal: safety for all; however, what is not equal is the budgets to achieve this goal. Will each school in America ever have equality when it comes to security budgets? After all, we owe it to our children to give them all an equally safe education.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

  • DHS to End ‘Shoes-Off’ Travel Policy

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy today which will allow passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • 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.

  • 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.