As a parent, have you ever thought about whether your child’s school was designed and built with security in mind?
To raise awareness of school safety and security issues, the National Crime Prevention Council – best known for its icon McGruff the Crime Dog – developed the “Be Safe and Sound” initiative. The initiative offers tools and tips on how schools can be made safer and more secure for students and staff.
There are several basic measures that schools can take to help ensure a secure learning environment for children. The National Crime Prevention Council offers the following guidelines:
* Visitors should be required to sign in or show proper identification.
* Unmonitored doors should be locked from the outside at all times to prevent unauthorized persons or items from entering the building unnoticed.
* Students entering and exiting the school property should be monitored.
* The receptionist should be equipped with a panic button for emergencies, a camera with a monitor at another location and a high-security lock on the front door that can be controlled.
* Access to identification badges,...