Emerging from a major four-year renovation, the reimagined Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History has reopened its doors to the delight of the citizens of its longtime home in New Haven, Connecticut and the many visitors, students, and researchers who come to explore and learn about its breathtaking collections and fascinating exhibitions.
- By Bill Shaughnessy
- October 14, 2024
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released the Anonymized Threat Response Guidance: A Toolkit for K-12 Schools, a new resource to help kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools and their law enforcement and community partners create tailored approaches to addressing anonymous threats of violence, including those received on social media. The toolkit outlines steps school leaders can take to assess and respond to anonymous threats, better prepare for and prevent future threats, and work in coordination with law enforcement and other local partners when these threats arise. It is co-sealed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which provided expert feedback on the toolkit’s key principles and strategies.
Workplace violence is a serious and growing challenge for many organizations — including those in the healthcare industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers in healthcare and social services experience the highest rates of injuries caused by workplace violence and are five times as likely to suffer a workplace violence injury than workers overall — and aggressive incidents are rising.
- By John Joyce
- October 01, 2024
ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Designation, and GeoComm, the provider of locally authoritative indoor and outdoor Geographic Information Systems (GIS), today announced a technology integration partnership to enhance emergency response and school safety. This collaboration merges ZeroEyes' AI gun detection and situational awareness software with GeoComm's comprehensive indoor mapping solutions to provide real-time, actionable intelligence to any Iowa K-12 schools.
Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old Georgia school shooting suspect, has also been charged in connection with the attack. The 54-year-old father was charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
- By Brent Dirks
- September 09, 2024
The healthcare industry is experiencing an alarming escalation of violence, including an increase in threats against healthcare workers. As a result, it is looking for ways to be proactive and protect its staff and patients. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of injuries from violent attacks against medical professionals grew by 63% from 2011 to 2018 and hospital safety directors say that aggression against staff escalated as the COVID-19 pandemic intensified in 2020.
- By Monique Merhige
- September 06, 2024
CENTEGIX recently released findings from a nationwide survey of 530 K-12 educators and administrators that bring attention to the critical issue of school safety, including the pervasive concerns surrounding staff safety, recruitment, retention, and their impact on student learning and well-being.
An active shooter situation is often cited as being extremely rare among school violence incidents in our country. Nevertheless, when one occurs, it’s always devastating, often unpredictable, and evolves quickly. Whether at a school, a house of worship, or anywhere for that matter, one is still too many.
- By Mark Berger, Guy Grace
- September 05, 2024
Everything is bigger in Texas, including the number of school districts. There are more than 1,200 public school districts in the state. And with back-to-school season here, the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff is a top concern. With such a large state and different types of districts, school security processes are often much different. One district might have a very different school security approach then a district across the state.
- By Brent Dirks
- September 04, 2024
Four people were killed and nine were injured hospitalized after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia on Wednesday.
- By Brent Dirks
- September 04, 2024
Most campuses do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of a broader community like a town, a borough, a city, a county, or a state. As such, there are a host of external resources available to help them through a crisis: from emergency responders such as police, EMTs and firefighters to mental health counselors, local emergency management departments, and media outlets.
- By Dean Cunningham
- September 03, 2024
Anyone who’s ever set foot on a college campus has experienced it. The sudden emergence of a speeding car as if from nowhere. The whoosh of a car passing as you crane your neck before crossing the street. The lurch of your stomach as you realize that vehicle could have so easily collided with you. Erratic driving isn’t unique to the college-aged demographic, but it’s a predictable part of campus life. Students want to make it to class on time. Or they’re eager to finally get off campus after a long day. Either way, they’re often rushing. And the repercussions can be frightening, and even tragic.
- By Devorah Warner
- September 03, 2024
ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Designation, and Raptor Technologies, the leading provider of school safety software, today announced their system technology integration partnership to enhance emergency response and school safety. The companies unveiled their first joint customer, Angleton Independent School District (ISD), which has successfully adopted ZeroEyes’ AI gun detection and situational awareness software integrated directly with the Raptor Alert silent panic alert technology systems.
Omnilert, a provider of active shooter solutions, today announced that Sarasota County Schools in Florida is deploying its Omnilert Gun Detect system to monitor over 4,800 security cameras throughout the entire school district, representing the largest deployment of its kind in Florida aimed at thwarting the presence of weapons on school campuses. Omnilert Gun Detect is the most effective and complete AI visual gun detection system available today – providing 24/7 monitoring with a near-instant response at the first sight of a gun with rich automation capabilities that can lock doors, notify police and trigger alarms to ensure the best possible outcomes in the event of an active shooter incident.
Laton Unified School District (LUSD) is a K-12 school district in Laton, Calif, located just south of Fresno in California's Central Valley. LUSD is comprised of four schools that serve about 700 students total. It's campus includes a preschool, an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school. As a small district with limited resources, LUSD was struggling to maintain its aging surveillance infrastructure across the district schools. Video cameras are a vital component of keeping students and faculty safe, yet the cost to maintain these systems was prohibitive.
- By Steve Prodger
- August 28, 2024
An overwhelming majority (96%) of parents in the United States support a mandate requiring schools to share security cameras with 911 Communications Centers during emergencies, according to a survey of K-12 parents. A federal mandate was preferred by 56% of parents, 29% wanted a community-level requirement, and 11% favored a school district mandate.
Mobile credentials, or the use of smartphones or other mobile devices to access secure areas, are increasingly considered as an alternative to traditional keycards and ID badges in schools. However, while mobile credentials offer several advantages, such as convenience and cost savings, there are also potential drawbacks to their use. To help aid schools in improving safety measures, let us explore the pros and cons of using mobile credentials for school safety and explain why it is important to always have multiple options in place.
- By Andrew Schonzeit
- August 01, 2024
Back in June, the NEA and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund released a School Gun Violence Prevention and Response Guide. And anyone involved in campus safety should make sure to read the entire report.
- By Brent Dirks
- July 19, 2024
Parking: for many, it’s an everyday fact of life. Whenever we drive somewhere, we must consider parking, and often, that parking experience sets our mood and expectations for the rest of the journey. Whether a quick grocery store pickup or long-term airport parking, the parking lot is an integral part of whatever type of campus you’re visiting. This includes destinations like retail stores, your local high school, hospitals, and the park-and-ride systems present in major cities.
- By Drew Pacino
- July 18, 2024
The opioid crisis is escalating across the United States, increasingly affecting all segments of the population, including students on K-12 and college campuses. As the threat from opioids, especially fentanyl, becomes more widespread, it's critical for schools to have naloxone available—an antidote for opioid overdoses. This article discusses why naloxone should be as common as Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in educational settings.
- By Ross Seeley
- July 17, 2024
Video surveillance is one of the most common security measures implemented by educational institutions today, but installing cameras is just the beginning. Adopting a holistic, comprehensive approach to video surveillance is a more effective way to safeguard campus communities and fully realize the value of your investment in physical security systems.
- By Bruce Canal
- July 16, 2024
With summer underway, K-12 and college students, faculty, and staff are taking a well-earned break to recharge and gear up for the fall. It’s also the season when security professionals can get in and get busy installing upgrades and retrofits before the new school year starts. It’s a brief window, but, thanks to diligent planning throughout the year, the pros are always ready to hit the ground running at the last bell of spring term to make the most out of the limited time available.
- By Jeremy Saline
- July 15, 2024
The "I Love U Guys" Foundation, a national non-profit organization that operates programs and trainings to standardize crisis response programs across schools, districts, departments, agencies and organizations, will host its upcoming National School Safety Briefings Symposium on September 5-6, 2024 at Verkada's San Mateo, California headquarters.
ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the US Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Designation, and Aegix Global, a Utah-based provider of industry-leading safety and personal protection resources technology, today announced that they have successfully deployed ZeroEyes' AI gun detection and situational awareness software in more than 200 Utah schools.
Texas-based Garrett Metal Detectors – in partnership with DVS Solutions – announced that its new Paragon walk-through metal detector (released 2023) attained a significant competitive victory in a bid for security upgrades for Memphis Shelby County Schools. More than 160 Paragons were installed across 100 or more ISD locations over the last month.
Critical Response Group (CRG), a provider of critical incident mapping data, announced recently that it has partnered with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), the nation’s third-largest school district, to implement cutting-edge critical incident mapping technology across the District’s 573 schools
Knightscope Inc. recently announces a new contract for its K1 Emergency Communication Devices (“ECDs”) in Texas in addition to a renewal of its full service maintenance agreement with the city of Mountain View, California, Knightscope’s hometown, for their network of emergency phones.
It was the second day of this school year, when an administrator in Montgomery County, TX, found herself needing to manage a student’s medical emergency on the football field after hours. A junior high school student was experiencing chest pains and needed immediate care.
- By Todd Piett
- February 12, 2024
The Mishkan Learning Center is steeped in history, first starting in 1945 to provide educational and recreational opportunities to young people regardless of the financial situation of their families. Today, the facility has grown to offer a variety of services, including a summer day camp, hands-on job training, and on demand housing for low-income earners to individuals in the Bridgeport, Connecticut, area.
There has been an increase in the types of available access control solutions. There has also, unfortunately, been an increase in the number of school shootings. Therefore, more campuses are turning to new and improved safeguards.
- By Bri Thomas
- February 02, 2024