SafeÂty and secuÂriÂty are top priÂorÂiÂties in our schools. As stuÂdents head back to class this fall, adminÂisÂtraÂtors and eduÂcaÂtors are faced with the evolvÂing chalÂlenge of proÂvidÂing secure access to authoÂrized perÂsonÂnel and guests, while keepÂing unauÂthoÂrized peoÂple out of the buildÂing.
MainÂtainÂing secuÂriÂty has nevÂer been simÂpler with today’s access conÂtrol sysÂtems for schools, mainÂtainÂing secuÂriÂty has nevÂer been simÂpler. In this blog post, we look at 6 ways these sysÂtems can increase safeÂty across the entire school disÂtrict.
1) Simple, secure access for teachers and staff
There’s no longer a need to conÂstantÂly redisÂtribÂute keys or spend resources on comÂpliÂcatÂed key manÂageÂment. Today’s access conÂtrol sysÂtems for schools allow your teachÂers and staff to enter the buildÂing with elecÂtronÂic key fobs, key cards/badges or even their smartÂphones. With some sysÂtems, you don’t even have to remove your phone from your pockÂet. This makes entry a lot smoother, more effiÂcient and more secure.
2) Track who’s in the school
Access conÂtrol sysÂtems make it easy to monÂiÂtor who is enterÂing the buildÂing and when. This is espeÂcialÂly valuÂable for sitÂuÂaÂtions in which you need to know who was in the school durÂing an inciÂdent such as theft, whether it hapÂpens durÂing the school day or after hours. In emerÂgency lockÂdown sitÂuÂaÂtions, it also helps to make sure all perÂsonÂnel are accountÂed for.
3) Safe access for parents and guests
DurÂing the school day, most schools are locked to preÂvent access from the outÂside. This is also true for many preschools and dayÂcare cenÂters, which remain locked at all times for even greater secuÂriÂty. So how do parÂents enter to drop off or pick up their kids? With access conÂtrol sysÂtems in place, parÂents can enter the same way as othÂer authoÂrized perÂsonÂnel: with keyÂless fobs, cards or by enterÂing their perÂsonÂal code on the keyÂpad.
4) 2‑way communication
Access conÂtrol sysÂtems can also be inteÂgratÂed with interÂcom sysÂtems and video camÂeras to allow for easy 2‑way comÂmuÂniÂcaÂtion between guests and perÂsonÂnel inside the school. This is useÂful for delivÂerÂies or othÂer sitÂuÂaÂtions in which parÂents or guests do not have a key fob or code.
5) Track attendance
If desired, your entire stuÂdent body can have key cards to ensure that no unauÂthoÂrized perÂsons are enterÂing the school. In addiÂtion to the enhanced secuÂriÂty, this also proÂvides a simÂpler means of trackÂing attenÂdance and havÂing record of who was in the buildÂing at any givÂen time.
6) Multi-room / building management
Access conÂtrol isn’t limÂitÂed to a sinÂgle exteÂriÂor door. These sysÂtems can be used to conÂtrol access through the entire buildÂing or even the entire disÂtrict. For examÂple, sciÂence teachÂers may need speÂcial access to rooms where chemÂiÂcals are stored. Approved perÂsonÂnel can use the same key fob, card or device to access these rooms as they use to enter the school. The same goes for adminÂisÂtraÂtors who need to travÂel to difÂferÂent schools durÂing the day. ManÂagÂing access is simÂple, allowÂing perÂsonÂnel to be grantÂed approval for difÂferÂent buildÂings or rooms with just a few clicks.
Learn more about access control systems for schools
Security Industry veteran with over 30+ years in the industry. Founded family owned and operated Protection Plus in 1994 with his wife and has overseen its growth since. In addition to working with his wife and son, Allan has assigned the role of Chief Canine Officer to his trusted dog Waub, who joins him at the office every day.