Here’s a roundup of just some of the school security upgrades that have been or will soon be implemented on some U.S. K-12 campuses.
Millions of K-12 students are heading back to school this week, and many will encounter or soon be encountering enhanced security technologies, policies, and procedures.
In Las Cruses, New Mexico, each public middle school and high school will install two AI weapons detectors this year, reports KFOX14. The installation of the equipment was prompted by a recent incident involving two students who allegedly were found with handguns at Organ Mountain High School.
A school security grant will pay for the detectors, which will cost approximately $1,500,000. Additionally, students will only be allowed to use certain entrances. The district is also considering a clear bag policy.
In Michigan, the state will use nearly $20.5 million in grants to bolster campus safety and security, according to a press release from the state’s Department of Education.
A total of 76 intermediate school districts, public school districts, and public charter schools will benefit from the funding, which will provide student services and additional training to teachers and staff to provide a wide array of services that may include:
- Fostering safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free environments.
- Implementing safety and violence prevention programs.
- Creating and implementing anti-bullying and harassment plans.
- Developing and implementing positive and fair discipline policies and practices.
- Implementing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to support and respond to student needs.
- Increasing student access to mental health services.
More School Security Upgrades Across the U.S.
In Austin, Texas, the Marble Falls Independent School District has partnered with FiveStones Safety to install and train district personnel on the district’s new CENTEGIX crisis alert system, reports KXAN. Every employee will be issued a CENTEGIX badge so they can all for help when there is an emergency.
All Marble Falls ISD campuses have also installed an alarm system, flashing lights, and an audio communications system to bolster school security.
In San Antonio, Texas, district police and security officers have been training, reports KSAT. Additionally, fences were installed around each campus, and metal detectors will be used at school entrances. Bullet resistant film will also be installed on glass doors and windows.
In Las Vegas, the Clark County School District (CCSD) has rolled out some enhanced school security measures, reports KTNV. The measures include scannable IDs for access to buildings on campus, pouches where students must store their cell phones during the school day so they can concentrate on their studies, and 43 new weapons detectors for sporting events.
The detection equipment will also be deployed at random middle schools and high schools to screen for weapons when students arrive on campus.
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About the Author
Robin has been covering the security and campus law enforcement industries since 1998 and is a specialist in school, university and hospital security, public safety and emergency management, as well as emerging technologies and systems integration. She joined CS in 2005 and has authored award-winning editorial on campus law enforcement and security funding, officer recruitment and retention, access control, IP video, network integration, event management, crime trends, the Clery Act, Title IX compliance, sexual assault, dating abuse, emergency communications, incident management software and more. Robin has been featured on national and local media outlets and was formerly associate editor for the trade publication Security Sales & Integration.
