Safe Schools Week may have passed, but the mission to create secure learning environments continues year-round. Whether you’re a school administrator, IT director, teacher, or safety officer, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for students and staff is a priority.
To help school leaders navigate the evolving landscape of school safety, we recently brought together a panel of experts to discuss practical strategies, key technologies, and funding opportunities for making schools safer.
Our powerhouse panel
- Michael Matranga: A former Secret Service agent and seasoned school safety expert, Matranga is the founder of M6 Global Defense and a trusted advisor to schools across the nation.
- Lesley Coe: As the CTO of Cardinal Gibbons High School, Coe brings firsthand experience in implementing and managing safety solutions within a school setting.
- David Rogers: The CMO and Head of Government Affairs at Raptor Technologies, Rogers offers a unique perspective on the role of technology in enhancing school safety.
- Andrew Henshaw: The CEO of Learn Design Apply, Henshaw is dedicated to helping organizations secure grant funding to advance their strategic objectives, including improving school safety.
- Corey Shelton: Vivi’s VP of Product, Shelton is passionate about leveraging the power of display technology to improve communication, emergency preparedness, and the overall safety of school communities.
Our panel’s top 5 school safety tips:
1. Proactive safety centered on people: “It’s the people who make the difference,” emphasized Matranga. A reactive approach to safety isn’t enough. Our experts stress the importance of building a culture of proactive safety through comprehensive threat assessment, robust mental health support systems, and ongoing, scenario-based staff training.
2. Seamless technology integration: Fragmented security systems can lead to confusion and delays in a crisis. Our panel highlighted the need for seamless technology to work together for to streamlined communication and a coordinated response. Integrating technologies like panic buttons with visual emergency notifications, gets critical information out clearly and quickly.
3. Visual communication for clarity and inclusivity: “Visual alerts provide an accessible medium for all students, including those with hearing impairments,” said Shelton. Visual communication is crucial for ensuring that everyone receives critical information during an emergency. Visual cues, displayed on screens throughout the school, provide clear instructions, reduce confusion, and promote a calmer, more controlled response.
4. Preparedness beyond the lockdown drill: School safety is not just about preparing for major events. “Schools need to allocate their resources wisely, addressing all aspects of safety,” noted Rogers. Our experts stressed the importance of preparing for and practicing a variety of everyday emergencies, from medical incidents to student altercations, to build staff confidence and muscle memory for effective responses.
5. Unlocking funding for safety initiatives: Many schools are unaware that grant opportunities for safety initiatives can cover a variety of technologies. Henshaw shared insights into key funding programs, such as the COPS School Violence Prevention Program and the USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. He stressed the importance of aligning grant proposals with a school’s specific needs and crafting compelling narratives to increase the chances of securing funding.
Ready to put these actionable insights into practice and learn even more from our expert panel? Watch the full webinar on demand for a deeper dive into building safer schools.
