In a recent study on a school shooting, experts found that there were procedures that could have been put in place to catch the tragedy before it happened.
“Our review confirmed that there were breakdowns in implementation and execution of the district’s threat assessment and suicide intervention policies and guidelines,” the report said. “Missteps at each level throughout the district […] snowballed to create a situation where a student’s communications and conduct should have triggered a threat assessment and suicide intervention but did not.”
While school districts nationwide, reacting to recent tragedies in Michigan and otherwise, invest in human and technological resources to improve school security, only an effective crisis plan can help schools maximize all their resources, more effectively prevent violence in schools, and respond to crises when they occur.
Here are three often-overlooked elements of effective crisis plans for today’s schools.
1. Account for Social Media
Educators must be especially mindful of the role that social media plays in stoking conflict.
As a result, an effective crisis plan will account for this influence of information effectively and implement policies around internet and mobile phone use in schools and classrooms. These policies will necessarily look different across school settings and communities.
School officials should collaborate with teachers, parents, and students to determine the social media and mobile phone policies and procedures that will maximize safety at their schools.
2. Choose School-Optimized Security Tech Solutions
Today, school security cameras are ubiquitous, with one analysis finding that 100% of schools use at least one security camera. Many are also looking to expand these initiatives, adding more and better security technologies to help keep students safe.
However, schools aren’t fortresses. They must strategically choose solutions appropriate for the school environment. Unlike access control systems at other venues like concerts or sports stadiums, schools must prioritize student safety over convenience or speed of entry.
Specifically, schools need solutions that can identify people entering campuses with guns and knives. According to The Washington Post, more than 1,150 guns were discovered on K-12 campuses during the 2022-2023 school year, likely a fraction of the actual total.
Simply put, the goal is to keep students safe and respect their privacy by using comprehensive weapon detection and prevention strategies.
3. Practice Effective Communication Processes
Clear communication is critical to preventing security incidents or responding to a crisis.
These plans are multifaceted and address various target audiences, including students, staff, parents, and emergency services. An effective communication process will account for each of these audiences with clear protocols for the critical information to be shared and the timing of the communication.
Schools want to ensure that all stakeholders are informed appropriately and in a timely manner in every scenario, especially in emergencies.
At the same time, schools should consider investing in a holistic approach to communication, including pathways for students or community members to report potential threats and indications of potential violence.
Source: Campus Safety Magazine