Editor's Note

Old Schools, New Designs

• By Ralph C. Jensen
• Nov 01, 2015

This issue of Campus Security & Life Safety has an interesting take on security. I think I’ve taken it for granted, but when you talk about camera installation, you have to think about the lens for the camera. Theia Technologies manufactures lenses, and they’ve been doing it for quite a while. They’ve even jumped into the 4K market.

The author, Andrea Iniguez, points out that oftentimes the lens selection is not given much attention; maybe it's even an afterthought. This is a huge mistake. The lens should be part of any due diligence.

I think you’ll enjoy this story, and it should be somewhat of a refresher course for those who consult on what equipment should be used to protect a campus.

That reminds me of a story out of Dallas where the Highland Park ISD wants to build three new schools, replacing schools that date back to the 1920s. Many are concerned about the loss of history if the schools were demolished. I get that, but there is a genuine need for more classroom space in the district, and the new schools could have security systems built in place.

Looking at this from the historical perspective, these schools have been listed as “most endangered historic places.” Look, the old schools can’t meet the needs of today’s educational demands and don’t work well with the growing population in the area.

From the security angle, building new schools will allow contractors to put the very best security equipment in place right from the start. In my way of thinking, whether we’re talking about the renovation of an older school or building a new campus, security must be at the top of the list for the students. It would be easy enough to preserve some of the building’s history, and a new security system outweighs history.

This article originally appeared in the November 2015 issue of Security Today.