North East School Districts Boosting Security

North East School Districts Boosting Security

Schools in Virginia and Maryland are boosting security before school starts in the Fall

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • June 19, 2018

In the wake of a series of nationwide school shootings, schools are boosting security on campus before the 2018-2019 school year.

According to local news, school districts in Virginia and Maryland are deploying new safety equipment or security staffing during the summer break.

Fauquier County approved the hiring of 12 new school security guards. The hiring will begin July 1 and could include a number of retired law enforcement officers, according to the county sheriff’s department and school officials

The sheriff’s department has long deployed deputies to serve as school resource officers at the county’s high schools. The new security guards will help supplement the officers and will also be posted inside county middle and elementary schools.

“Our goal is to make this happen before the start of the new school year,” said Fauquier County Sheriff Bob Mosier.

In Loudoun County Public Schools, administrators have added new photo ID screening technology to its school buildings. The district contracted with Houston, Texas-based Raptor Technologies to deploy photo ID screening devices, which scan visitors’ ID cards and check for criminal background information. The devices are used when visitors enter the main offices of county schools.

“The (system) scans the ID and instantly and automatically checks each entrant against a database of registered sex offenders as well as against a custom alert database created by each district or school,” according to a memo from Raptor Technologies.

Montgomery County Board of Education records said the school district is adding new security cameras at its elementary schools. The cameras will be deployed in large hallways and near bus lanes to better monitor students. The footage will be viewable and recorded inside the school district’s office of safety and security in Rockville.

Montgomery County Public Schools also are planning to add a newer access control system to its school buildings. The systems include a camera and intercom at the front entrances of the buildings, but those systems are aging and need to be upgraded, according to the April memo from the superintendent.

“It’s going to take money, but it’s money well spent,” said Bethesda Elementary School parent.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular