7 Technologies that promote School Safety

7_Technologies_openSchool safety is a huge topic that encompasses a lot of different types of technology. There’s video surveillance, access control, visitor management, fire systems, alarms, mass notification, etc. The list goes on and on.

While the needs of school districts vary as much as the size of their budgets, there are some major categories of technology that can promote school safety and make a difference in any K-12 district regardless of its location or size.

  1. Desktop Alerts–Desktop alerts allow for warnings to pop up on the screen of every campus computer on your network.  While many K-12 districts are moving towards mobile devices like laptops and tablets, this type of desktop messaging tool is still very beneficial.
  2. ID Card Access–While many schools have this sort of access control at the main entrance, few have key card access available at side entrances or anywhere in the building.
  3. Panic Buttons–If trouble arises, they push the button and an alert is sent to the the authorities and to school administrators to make everyone aware of a threat in the building.
  4. Social Media Scanning Software–This type of software is used to prevent cyber bullying or school violence by detecting it before it happens. The goal is to allow the school to intervene before anything serious occurs. Tools like this have been used to successfully prevent teen suicide and school violence.
  5. Mass Messaging Software–Tools like e2campus, pictured here, allow schools to send messages to parents, faculty, staff and students when there is a threat. These messages can be in the form of email, voice or text.
  6. Video Surveillance–A video surveillance system may help to deter people from criminal acts.
  7. Visitor Management–A visitor management system quickly scans the ID of any school visitor to check for red flags in their background.

These technologies help schools detect and deter threats and maintain essential lines of communication in the event of an emergency.   Are you using any of these technologies? Would you add anything to this list?

Originally posted in Campus Safety Magazine on February 19, 2015.