Choosing a school for your children is of paramount importance. The key thought process will be regarding how secure the school is. School security has come under intense scrutiny over the last few years due to the increase in school shooting scenarios. Parents are increasingly looking into elements of school security. This includes elements of physical safety as well as security of student’s possessions such as bikes, phones, etc.
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School Security: Limit The Possibility Of A School Shooting
Whatever school you send your children to has to have elements in place to stop school shootings. They occur quite frequently now across the whole United States. Remember, every day 12 children die from gun violence. If the school can limit gun violence then naturally, there’s less chance your kids could get caught up in something terrible. You need to assess the school security measures in place and make sure they’ve taken precautions to limit gun violence. These might be:
- Gun free zones
- Gun detection technology
- Enhanced school security systems
Among other things. Ask whoever is in charge of admissions what kinds of security they have in place. They should know right away.
Check In On Procedures
If something goes wrong…what are the next steps? For various security concerns there needs to be a procedure. For example, in the event of a fire, the school is evacuated and the local fire department called. In the event of an active shooter, perhaps the procedure is to lock all classroom doors etc. If you really drill down into specifics around the procedure you can find out exactly what will happen in each situation, and whether or not it’s good enough. If it isn’t, you know you need to look at other local schools.
Extreme Weather Security
In some states, although school shootings are still a threat, there’s also a worry about extreme weather. This can include earthquakes, flash floods, tornadoes, etc. If the school is in a state known for these kinds of problems you again need to check what kinds of defenses and procedures the school has in place. If they’re well equipped to deal with these variances in extreme weather you’ll be more inclined to let your child attend the school. If you’re really worried, do some research yourself. If the area is susceptible to flash flooding, find a school that is higher up and not near a river, for example. These small steps can give you peace of mind, it might however mean compromising on something else such as school shooting security.
Crime Prevention
Some schools occupy a great location, meaning children might often ride their bikes to school. However, with electric bike technology advancing there has been a spate of crime involving bike theft. Especially electric bike theft. Normal bikes are vulnerable too of course. If your child rides an electric bike, make sure there are proper measures in place to protect them. Electric bikes are quite expensive, so it’s about protecting your outlay too. The school should supply bike lock areas that are under CCTV and safe from the general public.