Rethinking security for K–12 after-school events

On Friday nights and weekends, high school stadiums, gymnasiums and auditoriums across the country fill with students, staff, faculty, families and other members of the community. These after-school sporting events and arts exhibitions, which showcase student talent and bring people together, also highlight a critical gap in school safety preparedness. While significant resources are invested to protect students during the school day, these athletic facilities and gathering points are often under-monitored and under-protected after hours.

Unlike regular school hours, students, staff and family members elect to attend after-hours events, as they’re no longer bound by compulsory state education requirements. But the learning doesn’t simply stop after the final bell, and neither should security. 

Athletic events are fundamentally different from a regular school day. They involve large crowds, open access points and, in many cases, outside vendors such as food trucks. This, along with the fact that stadiums and gyms are often physically separate from the main campus, makes monitoring and security coordination more difficult. For example, multiple points of entry, outdated fencing, and even limited lighting around fields and parking lots can all increase the potential for unauthorized access and security blind spots.

Read more at EdTech Magazine