Security solutions and technologies are evolving quickly. Considering all the security incidents that our nation’s K-12 schools have endured in recent years, it’s evident that schools also need to implement more robust security measures to elevate safety for students and staff, particularly as they relate to access control. NextGen Security and ASSA ABLOY’s door solutions are providing them, while also affording flexibility and future-readiness in a variety of ways.
Implementing robust security solutions in K-12 schools calls for a well thought out approach and strategy. Access control plays such an important part in protecting students and faculty. It’s no longer restricted to securing only a few exterior doorways; it’s crucial that access control solutions now also encompass interior and classroom doors, as well.
Some very key steps figure into designing a comprehensive school security solution. Step 1 should be identifying the school’s key issues, vulnerabilities, and concerns. These findings should clearly define the goals and expectations and glean the support of all stakeholders to determine what is needed in terms of classroom security, lockdown strategies, and door-opening operational functions.
Given the tragic events that have befallen many innocent schoolchildren and their teachers over recent years, the need for effective lockdown strategies has become clear. Lockdown protocols need to be decisively put in place. There have, traditionally, been two types of lockdown strategies – centralized decision with universal application that locks all doors from a central location, typically through an access control system, which is also termed global lockdown. There’s also what’s termed a local lockdown, a decentralized decision with local application which locks individual doors from inside the classroom that allows each teacher to decide whether to evacuate or lock their own door based on the situational awareness they have.
As ASSA ABLOY points out, security professionals, law enforcement and first responders will most often suggest an application-appropriate solution or hybrid of these two lockdown options. This typically includes centralized decision with universal application along the perimeter of a building and property, combined with decentralized decision with local application for interior doors, so it empowers teachers and faculty to respond to events more informatively with greater situational awareness.
Secondly, current perimeter and classroom security needs should be evaluated. These considerations include key control, building access and time schedules, visitor and critical entry points, and lockdown requirements. Methods that enhance security but also afford convenience and ease of entry should also be considered.
Next, security upgrades and/or enhancements can be recommended in four key areas: Perimeter security, exterior openings, entrance and access openings, and interior and classroom openings.
From there, a comprehensive security plan to address concerns should be prepared, keeping in mind that access control solutions in our nation’s schools are needed now more than ever. By upgrading access control measures to include interior and classroom doors allows K-12 schools to implement effective lockdown strategies, improve key control while also decreasing rekeying costs and, most importantly, enhance school security while also creating a more conducive environment for learning without fear of incident.
NextGen Security’s door solutions are adaptable to evolving access requirements. Our experience and expertise in K-12 school security is allowing schools to stay ahead of emerging security trends and address new and daunting challenges as they arise.
Door security should never be overlooked – it is a critical component of a K-12 school safety and security strategy. NextGen Security and ASSA ABLOY’s innovative door and hardware solutions continue to empower schools to enhance security, ensure compliance, improve efficiency, and adapt to evolving access requirements, creating safer and more secure learning environments for students and staff alike. And at the end of a school day, knowing how to better protect our schoolchildren and their educators so they can thrive is the best lesson learned.