Safety and Security


Purdue University Installs License Plate Reading Cameras

The Purdue University Police Department in West Lafayette, Ind., recently announced that it is partnering with public safety technology company Flock Safety to install six automated license plate reading (ALPR) cameras around campus.

University of Kentucky Installs New Video Management System

The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced its plans to deploy a new video management system from Salient Systems.

Schools In Focus: Talking Campus Security with Mitch McKinley

Schools In Focus: See Something, Say Something

This episode's guest is Jim Lee, the Enterprise Sales Director at Vector Solutions. We'll discuss topics like common safety issues and concerns in schools, what to look for in an emergency communications system, and how these systems can help schools get ahead of issues to keep students, staff and facilities safe.

a group of studenst in a classroom all raising hands

Automating Disaster Response Plans with Mass Notification

During a crisis, school leaders have a large number of tasks they need to accomplish to fulfill the measures established in their safety plans. Each item can impact the safety of their students and staff, but the more items they are responsible for, the higher risk there is that one of those steps will get missed.

Teachers, Books and Clouds: 5 Ways the Cloud is Revolutionizing School Security

Five Ways the Cloud is Revolutionizing School Security

For so many schools today, math and spelling tests serve as accountability to ensure students work hard and concentrate on learning.

Suspect in Pa. School Shooting Turns Himself In

A suspect involved in a shooting at Erie High School in Erie, Pa., on Tuesday, April 5, turned himself into the Erie Police Department on Wednesday, April 6, according to national news.

Schools In Focus: Talking Campus Security with Mitch McKinley

Schools In Focus: With the Press of a Button

Our guest today is Mark Berger, who’s the President and Chief Product Officer for Securitech Group, Inc. He’s here to discuss a school security solution that gives every student, teacher and staff member the agency to secure themselves in the event of an emergency with the press of a button. He’ll discuss its theory of operation and the installation process, as well as his own experience working with Sandy Hook Elementary School following the school shooting incident there in December 2012. This episode is sponsored by Securitech Group, Inc.

Mental Health, COVID Safety Top Concerns for Higher Ed in the Coming Year

New research finds that, in higher education, student and faculty/staff mental health are high up on the list of safety concerns, although COVID–19 safety measures remain the top concern.

Use of Anonymous Reporting Tools Declines in K–12

In a new report about crisis communications, a full quarter (25%) of respondents who work in K–12 reported that their students do not have a means of reporting tips anonymously. This at a time when concerns about violence on campus are dramatically up.

COVID No Longer Dominates Concerns in K–12 Schools

New research finds that COVID–19 safety measures are no longer the top concern among K–12 school administrators and staff. While it's still one important issue, the top concern for the coming year is student mental health.

Schools In Focus: Talking Campus Security with Mitch McKinley

Schools In Focus: Improve Building Health, Safety, and Security with Smart Sensor Technology

This episode's topic is "Improving Building Health, Safety and Security with Smart Sensor Technology," and our guest is Mike Davis, National Sales Manager for IPVideo. We'll talk about the different types of sensors and the variety of data they can collect, from physical to chemical to environmental to security. This episode is sponsored by IPVideo.

OSU Releases Results of Third-Party Safety Review

The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, recently released the results of an external review of its expanded off-campus safety program.

K12 classroom cellular reception

Cel-Fi Increases Safety at Texas School District

An independent, Texas-based school district comprised of 33 educational institutions including elementary, middle, and high schools needed to resolve its cellular reception problems. Staff and students must be able to make 9-1-1 calls on a mobile phone from anywhere within a school campus in the event of an emergency for location accuracy, according to guidelines set by the Safer Buildings Coalition.

Schools In Focus: Talking Campus Security with Mitch McKinley

Schools In Focus: The Future of ID Card Issuance Technology

This episode's guests are Mike Mans, Senior Product Marketing Manager, and Tiffany Renz, Sales Director - North America, both from HID Global. We'll talk about how schools can get the best bang for their buck with ID card and badge issuance technology.

Hanwha Techwin ISC West

Hanwha Techwin to Bring AI Multi-Sensor Camera Line to ISC West

Hanwha Techwin America is getting ready for ISC West 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The IP and analog video surveillance solutions provider will be showcasing its new line of “AI-powered dual channel multi-sensor cameras featuring powerful Deep-Learning based object detection and classification, and license-free video and audio analytics,” according to a news release.

Utah District Teams Up with Vector Solutions for Staff Training

The Salt Lake City School District in Utah recently announced that it has adopted a training management system from Vector Solutions. Vector Training, formerly known as SafeSchools, provides online video training courses for K–12 schools and will help the district maintain federal, state and local staff training and compliance among its 4,000 employees.

Exit sign

Safety Resolutions: 7 Reasons to Update Your School’s Safety Signs in 2022

From students to faculty, any school’s first priority should be the safety of people on campus. By now, you’ve probably learned that safety signage plays a vital role in keeping people safe at your school. From the parking lot to the playground, having the proper school safety signs not only keeps your students and faculty safe but also helps you avoid costly lawsuits or OSHA fines.

Teen Faces Charges in Shooting at Florida High School

A 16-year-old student is facing charges after an active shooter incident put Seminole High School in Sanford, Fla., on lockdown for several hours on Wednesday, Jan. 19.

University of Wisconsin to Test AI-Powered Security System

Liberty Defense Holdings Ltd. recently announced that it has signed an agreement with the University of Wisconsin Police Department (UWPD) to test a new security detection walkthrough portal on campus.

Texas District Adopts New Cybersecurity Solution

A Texas school district recently entered a partnership with cybersecurity solutions provider IronNet, Inc. to help combat an increasing number of cyber attacks against the district’s networks.

GSU Launches Graduate Certificate Program in Trustworthy AI Systems

Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., recently launched a Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Systems graduate certificate program.

Vector Launches K–12 Environmental Health, Safety Incident Management System

Vector Solutions, a training and software solutions provider, recently announced the launch of an incident management system for K–12 schools designed to help districts keep track of health and safety incidents, hazards and trends.

Hand Sanitizer Storage Poses Safety Problems

The widespread use of hand sanitizing stations requires educational institutions to keep a bulk supply of hand sanitizing fluid on hand. And finding a location on campus to keep gallons of hand sanitizing fluid has proved to be a logistical challenge from a fire and life safety inspections perspective.

Balancing Safety and Sustainability to Upgrade School Infrastructure

School infrastructure has faced significant challenges over the past few years. As administrators look forward, they are faced with the difficult challenge of ensuring their building infrastructure encompasses both short-term safety and long-term priorities while instilling public confidence.

ASSA ABLOY Launches Virtual Tour Demonstrating Security Solutions

ASSA ABLOY recently launched a 360° virtual online tour demonstrating access control and security and solutions to help higher education administrators address common challenges.

Three Pillars of Protection Against Active Shooters

A 2013 study from the Department of Homeland Security suggests that only 15% of active assailant events in schools occur outside of the school building. That figure, then, means that 85% of active shooter events in schools occur within the building, once the assailant has made it past external security. In addition to preventing active shooter situations from occurring, it’s just as important to focus on how to manage them and minimize the damage once they’ve already begun.

School Safety Officer Terminated Following Student Death

A school safety officer in Long Beach, Calif., has been fired following an incident that left an 18-year-old mother brain-dead, and the Long Beach Police Department has opened a homicide investigation.

Teen Who Was Suspended Over Mask Mandate Arrested on Trespassing Charges

A 16-year-old student at Laramie High School in Laramie, Wyo., was arrested and led away from her school in handcuffs on Thursday, Oct. 7. Junior Grace Smith said in an interview that she was arrested for trespassing after receiving a suspension for refusing to follow the school’s mask mandate and then refusing to leave school grounds.

A University's Small Change Makes a Big Difference

Mount St. Mary's University installs a solution for slip-and-fall incidents.

How Mass Notification Can Play a Critical Role in Disaster Response

When a disaster occurs, schools need every tool at their disposal working towards one goal: keeping everyone safe. Efficient disaster response requires an easy-to-use, streamlined system that can perform multiple functions simultaneously to get information out as quickly as possible so students and staff can stay out of harm’s way.