Safe Schools:     The Mitigation Process for Schools, Universities and Daycare Facilities

Task 1: Security / Emergency Assessment

The goal of the security / emergency assessment is to evaluate the security technologies, polices and procedures, emergency response plans, training and awareness, landscaping, lighting, etc. As a part of the assessment, interviews should be conducted with faculty, administrators, professors, teachers, employees, students, area business owners, law enforcement, fire department leaders, emergency management agencies, and area security professionals.

“Big-picture” items should be considered while performing an assessment which includes; city demographics, crime statistics, daily activities of area businesses, extra curricular activities, contractors, building maintenance, hours of operation, number of residences, surrounding facilities, future projects, and operating budget.


An assessment should at least address three main components:

1. Operations - Comprehensive review and assessment of existing security policies and procedures, staffing and training. Specific Operational Security items to be reviewed include:

• Organization, structure, and post orders of an in-house security and police force

• General security policies and procedures

• Security awareness and patrol tactics training

• Coordination/interface with local police & emergency services

• Liaison and interview with organizations and businesses in the area

• Security incident reporting, tracking and investigation

• Emergency operations and response plans

 
2. Architectural and Physical Security:

• Public Access Areas – Vulnerability analysis and risk mitigation for parking lots, alleys, parks, and other high-risk venues.

• Lighting (Interior and Exterior):
  *Programmable / Controllability
  *Overlapping coverage
  *Obstructions
  *Florescent vs. Metal Halide
  *Maintenance & Repair

• Landscaping
  *Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
  *Masking, Shadows, Over Growth
  *Funneling foot and vehicle traffic
  *Beautify

• Building Construction
  *Brick, Glass, Wood, Other
  *Single Story vs. Multiple Stories
  *Single Structure vs. Multiple Structures
  *Door Operation and Door Hardware

• Cleanliness
  *Trash (trashcans, dumpsters, etc)
  *Graffiti
  *Abandoned Buildings
   

3. Technological Systems:

• Security Systems
  *CCTV (digital video management)
      *Camera selection
             *Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ)
             *Color vs. B&W
             *Digital, Analog, IP
             *Wired vs. Wireless
  *Digital Video Recording vs. VCR
  *Monitoring
  *Remote Access & Portability

• Access Control (Property & buildings)
  *Gates / Fencing / Etc
  *Locks
  *Proximity Cards
  *Cypher locks

• Intrusion Detection

• Panic Alarm Systems

• Tracking Systems

• Information Protection and Disaster Recovery Capabilities

• Communications System design and integration:
  *Emergency Call Boxes
  *Radios
  *E-mail, pagers, cell phones, landlines, PDAs, text messaging, etc.
  *Intercom systems
   

Task 2: Documentation of Security / Emergency Assessment Findings

The assessment report should allow for a structured format of “Observations and Recommendations” with regard to technologies, policies and procedures, training and awareness, general security, emergency response, information protection, regulatory and compliance (NIMS & Clery Act) and other risk mitigation solutions.


Task 3: Development of a Security / Emergency Master Plan “the Plan”

Once the assessment findings have been outlined, the development of a Security / Emergency Master Plan should be completed. The development of the Plan will help rank by importance and severity, the observations and recommendations, as well as provide a “road map” and timelines for completing the security and emergency related tasks. Ranking the recommendations will help the management establish moving forward actions steps, milestones, as well as to help outline fiscal year budgets, if applicable.

Task 4: Management of Security / Emergency Technology Enhancement Projects

A project manager should be assigned to oversee any security / emergency mitigation technology enhancement that is executed by the organization. The project manager will ensure the equipment is installed per the RFP specifications as well as is completed on time and within the prescribed budget. Technology enhancement could include, but are not limited to; intrusion detection, CCTV, access control, barrier control, fencing, lighting, gating, code blue communications, panic alarms, lock-down capabilities, IT firewalls, encryption devices, paging systems, network and phone alert systems.


Task 5: Policy and Procedure Development

As the installation of new systems are be implemented, administrators should enhance their security policies and procedures, as well as their emergency response plans. By updating these documents it will help ensure the policies and procedures truly augment the new technology systems. By having current and structured policies and procedures, it will allow the school to minimize property damage, bodily injury and liability. Policy and procedure enhancement should include, but should not be limited to:

• Security Post Orders

• Visitor & Contractor Control

• Opening & Closing Procedures

• Incident Management

• Business Continuity Procedures

• Information Assurance

• Emergency Response

• General Safety and Security

Task 6: Training & Awareness

No matter how high-tech your school, university, or daycare facilities may become, the training and awareness of the faculty, administrators, teachers, professors, students, and in some cases the parents, will always be one of, if not the most important aspect of an organizations security and emergency response capability. Ensure your organization receives reality-based training that includes pre-incident, incident and post-incident training.


Task 7: Security / Emergency Master Plan Testing & Evaluation

Every organization should participate in tabletop, sandbox or functional full-scale exercises. The exercises and evaluations will validate the items implemented as a result of the Security / Emergency Master Plan, as well as outline areas that need continued improvement. Training and exercise should be completed regularly and/or whenever there is a major change in administration.