Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

School Safety Whitepaper Explores Role of Strategic Collaboration

  • 03/31/15

Wallingford, Conn. — The problem of school safety and security needs to be addressed through strategic collaboration, according to a new whitepaper authored by Dr. William M. Toms, a faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University and retired New Jersey State Police Major, in collaboration with Mutualink, a company specializing in interoperable communications for schools, public safety, defense, and more.

Through experience-based insights, the paper presents actionable information for school administrators, school security personnel, policy makers, public safety agencies, and other stakeholders with a role in protecting students while at school.

The whitepaper, Ensuring Preparedness during School Safety Crises, states, “For schools to provide an optimal setting for learning and growth, they must not only be safe, but provide a feeling of security to all stakeholders – faculty, students, parents, board members and community supporters.”

Topics explored in the paper include:

  • Funding school safety and security measures at the state level – why a paradigm shift is needed.
  • Leveraging technology that enables schools to collaborate in real time with public safety officials – sharing live video, voice and intercom communications, and school maps – proven to reduce incident resolution time by as much as 40% in active shooter exercises.
  • A “Strategic Collaboration” model developed specifically for school communities by a faculty member of Fairleigh Dickinson University and Mutualink outlines the stages of strategic community collaboration that lead to safety in our schools, as well as tactical components of collaboration to reach resolution once school security has been breached.
  • Preventing, operationalizing, and mitigating school-related emergencies.

To download the whitepaper and learn more about Mutualink’s school safety program, please visit: Mutualink K-12.

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Parallel Architectural Products

    Armstrong World Industries, provider of interior and exterior architectural applications, recently announced that it has acquired the Colorado-based Parallel Architectural Products, according to a news release.