New Parkland School to be Built like a Fortress

New Parkland School to be Built like a Fortress

A new charter school just miles from Marjory Stoneman Douglas could be the most advanced campus in terms of security in the state.

Parkland, Fla. has been at the center of the school security debate since an ex-student walked onto the campus of Majory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed 17 people. Since the shooting, law makers, activists and concerned parents have been calling for boosted security on campus. A new proposed school could be what they have been asking for.

Somerset Academy Parkland, a school that first submitted its application to the city in 2014 to create the Somerset Academy at Parkland Charter School for grades K-12, has recently detailed the kinds of security features we can expect to see on campus if the plan is approved.

The two-story charter school, which would open just a few miles from Majory Stoneman Douglas, would have a six-foot fence around the property, as well as an eight-foot non-scalable fence surrounding the building. Bollards would prevent a car from driving into the school and surveillance cameras would be monitoring live with a seven-day loop, Michael Moskowitz, the school's attorney said.

The lobby of the building would have bullet-resistant glass and the school would enlist security assistants to check IDs as students and faculty came into the building, passing through two bullet-resistant doors before making it into the part of the building where the classrooms are. These rooms will also be outfitted with bullet-resistant doors and teachers will be required to keep their doors locked at all times.;

The school will also employee uniformed police officers.

Last winter, Somerset Academy, which operates more than 60 schools in Florida, Texas, Nevada and Washington D.C., proposed the two-story school of nearly 98,000 square-feet for grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

The plan was initially turned down at Planning & Zoning in November, but the City of Parkland's staff has given its approval to this latest plan, which is up for consideration by the city's Planning & Zoning Board.

If the school is approved, Moskowitz said it could be open by August 2019.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies: Uniting Human Risk Management and Security Awareness Training

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

  • Report: 1 in 3 Easily Exploitable Vulnerabilities Found on Cloud Assets

    CyCognito recently released new research highlighting critical security vulnerabilities across cloud-hosted assets, revealing that one in three easily exploitable vulnerabilities or misconfigurations are found on cloud assets. As organizations increasingly shift to multi-cloud strategies, the findings underscore significant security gaps that could provide attackers with potential footholds into networks. Read Now

  • Built for Today, Ready for Tomorrow

    Selecting the right VMS is critical for any organization that depends on video surveillance to ensure safety, security and operational efficiency. While many organizations focus on immediate needs such as budget and deployment size, let us review some of the long-term considerations that can significantly impact a VMS's utility and flexibility. Read Now

  • Paving the Way to Smart Buildings

    In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, the convergence of on-prem, edge and cloud technologies are critical. The physical security landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid digitalization of buildings and the evolving needs of modern organizations. As the buildings sector pivots towards smart, AI and data-driven operations, the integration of both edge and cloud technology has become crucial. Read Now

  • The Cybersecurity Time Bomb

    If you work in physical security, you have probably seen it: a camera, access control system, or intrusion detection device installed years ago, humming along without a single update. It is a common scenario that security professionals have come to accept as "normal." But here is the reality: this mindset is actively putting organizations at risk. Read Now

New Products

  • 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.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities