A new survey by ADT indicates that many parents of children in grades K-8 are concerned about the capability for schools to provide a safe, secure environment.
Titled “ADT National Back-to-School Security Survey,” the study found that nearly half of the 1,948 respondents expressed concerns that a sexual predator could target their child while at school.
More than a third of the parents said they are concerned their child could be abducted by a stranger. A majority (58 percent) said they would be willing to pay for additional security systems to help schools keep unwanted visitors off campuses.
“Through this survey, parents are making it clear they want local school boards to do more to protect children,” says Patrick Fiel, ADT’s public security advisor and a former head of security for Washington, D.C. Public Schools. “We need cooperation among adults and children, proper planning and more innovation to ensure that young students are as safe as possible.”
Fifty-five percent of survey respondents said it was important for their child’s school district to implement a visitor identification management system, and 54 percent agreed that every state should require one at schools. Currently, only Florida mandates these systems be implemented in all public schools.
The survey of parents was conducted in late July by Zogby Int’l and has a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percent.
