11 Components of a Secure School Front Entrance

www.campussafetymagazine.com

Brad Spicer

Our front entrance is the only place that visitors are allowed to enter our school. I was hoping to find additional things that we could to do make our front entrance more secure within this article. Mr. Spicer provides eleven components in this article that can help to make a school more secure and prevent access to those who may present a threat to student safety. Mr. Spicer says that fencing should be used around the perimeter of a campus. Although a fence will not prevent individuals from entering the campus, it will certainly make them more noticeable as they cross it. We have a couple of areas at my school that could be easily fenced to restrict access, without making our campus feel like a prison. He also indicates that schools should have a single point of entry with all other access points being locked and not used for entry. Entry points should be monitored with a video camera and an intercom system that will allow school staff to communicate with visitors. Access points may also have electronic access controls so that staff members may enter using an entry pad, card reader, etc. Once visitors have entered the school facility, Mr. Spicer indicates that their arrival and departure should be strictly monitored using a quality visitor management program. Other components that are suggested include the use of a vestibule or double entry areas so that an initial door can be unlocked, allowing access to the office but not to the remainder of the school and a panic button that can be used to summons help from law enforcement. It is also recommends that door hardware be kept in good working order and that front entrances include as little glass as possible, as it is easy to breach. Lastly, Mr. Spicer indicates that school employees should continuously maintain a raised sense of awareness, especially during times such as arrival and dismissal of students.  Although the front entrance to my school is quite secure and visitors are managed fairly well, I found ideas from this article that could be very helpful. Although it wouldn’t be easily done, the idea of a double entrance seems to be a very good way to fully identify visitors before giving them full access to the school. Hopefully we can all continue to be cautious and aware, providing a safer school for our students and teachers.