Reducing the Risks

School security measures that can help reduce the risks of terrorism while also reducing the risks of other types of school security incidents:

  • School safety web training systems
  • Visitor management software
  • Properly trained and armed school security and/or law enforcement personnel assigned to schools
  • Training in pattern matching and recognition
  • Involvement of law enforcement, fire service, emergency management and public health officials in school crisis planning
  • External school security assessments conducted by a firm with anti-terrorist qualifications
  • Proximity card systems
  • Training in visual weapons screening
  • Security laminate film
  • Drills which require independent judgement of staff
  • Ballistic laminate film for key glass areas
  • Duress button systems
  • Virtual tours of school facilities for use in emergency situations
  • Emergency notification systems
  • Portable radios for key staff
  • Fencing
  • External numbering of doors
  • The use of Knox boxes to provide keys to first responders
  • Thoughtfully implemented school security camera systems

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.