The days when school buildings sat nearly empty during summer vacation months have gone the way of chalkboards and cursive writing.
Today, school campuses, once nearly unpopulated during the summer months, have become busy activity centers. More schools are serving as multi-purpose community centers. School districts are ramping up athletic and music practices ahead of their official fall starting dates. And there are always maintenance projects that can only be done in the summer.
Indeed, school security doesn’t take a vacation.
Summertime security practices include limiting access points with designated entrance doors and parking areas, and securing high value property areas such as computer learning labs, A/V production studios, editing suites, and storage areas. In addition, schools should assign select individuals the responsibility of ensuring summer seasonal security standards are met and maintained.
“Even during the summer months, when much activity winds down, schools should remain vigilant and take the necessary steps to safeguard their properties and related assets,” says Clay Crost, director of Education Market at Sonitrol Great Lakes, who points out that school break-ins and burglaries peak during the summer vacation months.
In the case of seasonal improvement and maintenance projects, short-term, limited access controls may be required for contractors, vendors, and related workers who need to work on the school property. Access cards can be programmed with cut-off dates to assure that the user doesn’t have access beyond the expected work deadline.
If school property is being used over the summer vacations by clubs, staff or community groups, districts should post their holiday access policy and enforce it. Security instructions covering alarms, access routes, times, the management of keys, responsibilities, emergency plans, and other pertinent information must be clear and easy to access for those who need it.
Sonitrol Great Lakes has been protecting schools across the region for more than 50 years. Contact us for advice and assistance with your school’s security needs.