Security Tips for Open Campus Schools

July 5th, 2022

Many high schools throughout the United States have adopted an open campus policy. This means that students are allowed to leave the campus during their lunch or free periods.

There are many benefits, and drawbacks to this kind of policy, and these are heavily debated among people, but being awarded this kind of freedom does appeal to many students.

If your campus is considering this kind of open campus policy, then there are a few things that need to be done in order to protect the safety and security of the students as well as the staff.

Monitoring

Many schools in TX already utilize security cameras around campus, and this is good because they are important when it comes to monitoring school grounds and keeping a watchful eye on campus.

School personnel also have the option of viewing security footage from their mobile devices, so they are always aware of who is coming and who is going. You will be able to monitor all the hallways, the entrances and exits, and the parking lot.

Tracking

All of this means that you can see who is coming and going. With an access control system, you can allow the students to come onto campus and leave safely.

Each student should have their own ID card that can be used to gain access to the buildings around campus. You can also assign special privileges to certain cardholders as well.

If you have a teacher's lounge, for example, you can provide a different access card to staff so only they can gain entry.

This system also provides personnel with a log of who is coming and going and when. Intercom systems can also be used to better communicate with people, including delivery personnel and those without access.

Alerting

Alarm systems are also beneficial for an open campus environment because when an entry point is compromised, an audible sound is emitted alerting everyone of an emergency.  It can also be linked to a mass communication system that can alert students who are off-campus at the time.

So, if there is any kind of emergency happening on campus, these students can receive a text or email notification alerting them to what is going on, so they can maintain a safe distance from the school at that time.

Bottom Line

When it comes to any kind of campus, open or not, one of the top priorities should be the safety and security of the students, the teachers, and the rest of the staff. Incorporating all of these safety measures is imperative for doing this.

With the right system in place, you can better protect the campus and keep a more watchful eye on what is going on.

For more information on these systems or other ways you can improve the security of your school campus in Houston, TX, contact your local security company today to go over all the options that are available to you.