Public & Private Schools

SMSI Staff Writer

07.01.03

Although, officially, schools are not generally open to the public, in reality they are. Most schools do not have strict perimeter security and the ability to identify students and faculty from intruders is not always easy.

After the attack on Columbine High School, the Governor of Colorado commissioned a panel to study the incident and come back with recommendations. After reviewing the panel's report, it appears that security consultants were not solicited for input, which may explain why this report is lacking in significant recommendations to deter and prevent these kinds of tragedies from reoccurring.

Clearly, the events of 9/11/01 provide school systems with further notice that security needs to become a priority.

As with the other facilities mentioned in this newsletter, many of the remedies need not be costly.

Schools should follow the model set forth in the SMSI Security Solution Hierarchy (found on our website www.smsiinc.com). There are many effective Behavior Modification techniques, as laid out in the hierarchy, that could be applied to a school environment.