High School Adds New Layer of Security

ballistic protection

Ohio’s Canfield High School improves school safety with frontline ballistic protection

The need for innovative solutions to counter the U.S. school shooting epidemic becomes more urgent each day, as our country now experiences an incident almost every week, according to public service website EveryTown for Gun Safety. It’s an eyeopening statistic for school administrators and parents who prefer to believe those situations can’t occur under their watch.

Canfield High School, named as one of Newsweek’s Top Public High Schools in 2016, responded to that statistic. The Ohio school wanted to provide a high level of security while maintaining an open and inviting learning environment. The school also needed a solution that would work with its existing Emergency Action Plan and response protocol training, the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) methodology. The school selected and installed WonderTiles from Safe Place Solutions to meet those needs.

The customized ballistic surface tiles were installed to harden public and communal areas of the school. Built to withstand up to NIJ Level III attacks, WonderTiles offer the highest level of ballistic personal protection currently available. Should the school ever need to employ Lockdown mode as part of the ALICE protocol, the tiles will be in place to protect the school and occupants.

“Safe Place Solutions has effectively covered our students and faculty against the threat of an active shooter attack,” says Canfield schools Superintendent Alex Geordan. “Our ALICE protocol combined with the WonderTiles protection will buy time until help arrives.”

Safe Place Solutions is a subsidiary of Clifton Steel, a pioneer in the design and manufacturing of ballistic armor for the U.S. military for more than two decades. Safe Place Solutions creates a range of ballistic products that help provide additional layers of protection, empowering administrators to implement the most comprehensive protection plans available. For more information, visit blockbullets.com.

www.blockbullets.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Wold Completes Geothermal Projects at Two Minnesota Schools

    Wold Architects & Engineers recently announced that it has completed two geothermal expansion projects for Mounds View Public Schools in Shoreview, Minn., according to a news release. The work at Highview Middle School and Irondale High School serves the district’s long-term goal of reducing energy costs and dependency on non-renewable fuel sources, as well as improving building performance.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.