Employing
technology to make our world safer has become as ingrained in our society as
using a car or the subway to commute to work. One area where that evolution has
been particularly dramatic of late is in schools, where myriad incidents over
the past two decades continue to demonstrate the growing need for security
technology as a crucial tool in school officials’ arsenal against crime and
violence in the school setting.
These
technological tools are deployed in schools thanks in part to projects such as
Safe Schools, Healthy Students, a federal government initiative designed to
bring together the efforts of school officials, law enforcement and community
leaders. Through these programs and federal grants — more than $2.1 billion
awarded in the last decade — schools of varying sizes, geographies and
socio-economic statuses have implemented a host of different methods to
mitigate threats from both inside the school building and out. As part of the
awareness brought about by these programs, schools have been investing in
security technology in growing numbers, and manufacturers in the security
industry have been responding with tailor-made solutions to meet the specific
requirements and limited budgets of this market.
One of
the most visible signs of security measures in schools is the surveillance
camera network, which gives school administrators eyes and ears on multiple
areas of the school building, from the crowded hallways and cafeteria to remote
areas of the parking lot. These camera networks are often the first pieces of
technology to be installed, and provide school staff instant access to video of
normal daily operations as well as incidents unfolding for prompt response.
Video recording technology also aids in the investigation and adjudication of
incidents, whether a fight in the parking lot after school dismissal, the theft
of an iPad from a locker, or an argument between student and staff member.
Outside
of the traditional security-related tasks assigned to the surveillance system,
cameras in schools can also aid in more operational related ways. For example,
are unauthorized students using the elevator at the end of the hall, normally
reserved for disabled students and visitors? During evening and weekend
sporting events, are there enough ticket windows open in the pre-game hours to
handle the crowds?
Other
security technologies are also being packaged to better fit the school
environment. Access control and intrusion systems that protect the building’s
perimeter from unauthorized visitors, along with visitor management systems
that track and control visitors can all be coupled with video surveillance to
create a more robust security system at a lower price point. For example, a
camera in the front office can show the face of the person who signed out a
student on Tuesday afternoon as Mrs. Jones. Or a door forced open alarm
from the access control system can send a video clip to police dispatch, which
sends it along to the laptop in the closest patrol car.
Programs
like Safe Schools, Healthy Students and other such initiatives are making a
positive impact in educational institutions around the country, both in
enabling safer environments as well as raising awareness of the need and
effectiveness of technology as a tool. As a leading security
manufacturer, Tyco Security Products is proud of its commitment to providing
cost-effective and technology focused solutions that support the education
market’s efforts to provide great school security.
For more details please contact us at:
Memphis Communications Corporation
4771 Summer Ave
Memphis, TN 38122
Tel: 901.725.9271
Fax: 901.272.3577
Toll Free: 866.805.5893
Service and Supplies: 901.257.2500
Website: http://www.memphiscommunications.net
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