Hosting events during the school day presents unique security challenges that require comprehensive strategies to ensure the safety and protection of students, staff, and visitors.
School events, whether they are art shows, theater performances, or community gatherings, often draw large crowds and can create situations where the usual security protocols are tested to their limits. The influx of visitors and the dynamic nature of these events necessitate a robust approach to security that goes beyond daily routines.
From managing multiple entry points and monitoring visitor movements to responding swiftly to emergencies and ensuring effective communication, schools must be prepared to handle a variety of scenarios.
But having so many disparate, siloed tools in place to manage those needs can easily overwhelm safety and IT teams. Therein lay the value of a truly integrated platform and safety ecosystem.
Schools equipped with Raptor Complete have access to the full suite of Raptor products, encompassing every aspect of school safety, from prevention through recovery, ensuring peace of mind for administrators, parents, and the community.
When it comes to improving perimeter safety in particular for public events during the school day, Raptor Complete bolsters security through the following tools:
- VisitorSafe
- DismissalSafe
- Digital Hall Pass Management
- Raptor Team Assist in Raptor Alert
- Raptor Emergency Management
Below, we delve into the key safety concerns of such events and outline effective strategies to address them using the advanced safety solutions of Raptor Complete.
1. Unauthorized Access
Concern:
- Risk of unauthorized individuals entering the premises, posing potential threats to students and staff.
- Difficulty in monitoring and managing multiple entry points during the event.
- Potential for intruders to blend in with crowds or disguise their intent.
Strategy: Implement Advanced Visitor Management Systems
Solution: Raptor VisitorSafe™
Raptor VisitorSafe ensures that only authorized individuals can enter the premises by verifying visitor identities. This solution supports both everyday visits and large events, enhancing security by preventing unauthorized access. By adopting technology from secure industries like banking and finance, VisitorSafe provides unparalleled flexibility and security, ensuring peace of mind for building administrators.
Pairing this technology with controlled, single-points of entry allows only screened, authorized visitors to enter the campus—keeping unauthorized and potentially dangerous visitors safely away from students.
2. Supervision Challenges
Concern:
- Strain on staff resources as they balance event duties with regular supervision responsibilities.
- Increased risk of students wandering off or getting lost in the crowd.
- Difficulty in ensuring that students are always accompanied by a responsible adult.
Strategy: Improve Student Tracking and Supervision
Solution: Raptor DismissalSafe™
DismissalSafe coordinates and simplifies student dismissal, ensuring that students leave with approved individuals. This solution helps staff manage their supervision responsibilities more effectively and provides real-time tracking of carline pickups, reducing delays and enhancing safety.
Solution: Raptor Digital Hall Pass Management
Raptor’s Hall Pass Management enhances visibility and accountability for students outside the classroom. This system allows staff to track student movements in real-time, preventing unwanted behaviors and minimizing disruptions, thereby ensuring students do not wander off during events.
3. Communication Breakdowns
Concern:
- Challenges in maintaining clear lines of communication among staff, security personnel, and event organizers.
- Potential for misinformation or lack of timely updates in the event of an emergency.
- Difficulty in coordinating with external emergency services if needed.
Strategy: Facilitate Real-Time Communication
Solution: Raptor Team Assist
Everyday situations can escalate quickly without the presence of designated personnel to identify and resolve the issue. The Team Assist feature within Raptor Alert gives teachers and staff the power to request help for situations like student fights, irate visitors, or medical incidents. This sends alerts to a pre-determined group of staff and enables those involved to chat through group messaging.
4. Emergency Response Complications
Concern:
- Delays in responding to emergencies due to the high volume of attendees.
- During an emergency, it can be difficult to know where help is needed most. School administrators must be able to help direct emergency resources.
Strategy: Enhance Emergency Management Protocols
Solution: Raptor Emergency Management Integration with VisitorSafe
With features like full integration with Raptor VisitorSafe, configurable alerts, and enhanced 911 workflows, Raptor’s Emergency Management ensures quick and efficient responses to emergencies.
Confidently account for everyone on campus during an emergency. In an emergency, this integration enables you to account for every visitor (including contractors, volunteers, vendors, substitutes, guardians, etc.) who is signed into the visitor management system.
And, you’ll instantly know if any students were dismissed before the emergency was initiated.
“Raptor has been our first security system that allowed us an on-demand snapshot of who is and is not on property in all buildings across campus. Parents, students, and faculty feel and see the benefit of the system when they are asked to register through Visitor Management. Raptor Alert has revolutionized how we drill and communicate during emergencies. The Raptor suite of products opened a whole new world of security to us.” Yvette Cavender, Grammar School Principal at Coram Deo Academy, TX
Raptor Complete integrates multiple safety features into a single comprehensive suite, providing total school safety coverage. This includes visitor management, emergency response, student tracking, and more, ensuring that all aspects of school security are addressed.
The suite’s enhanced monitoring capabilities, efficient resource allocation, and comprehensive equipment—including metal detectors and surveillance cameras—ensure no area is left uncovered.
By leveraging technology, Raptor Complete optimizes the deployment of security personnel, making the entire security operation more efficient and effective.
Comprehensive School Safety with Raptor
By aligning these security concerns with the strategies and solutions provided by Raptor, schools can create a safer environment for students, staff, and visitors during events. Comprehensive security measures not only protect against immediate threats but also contribute to a culture of safety and preparedness within the school community.
For more information on how Raptor can enhance your school’s safety, schedule a demo.
Related Resources
Guide to K-12 Visitor Management
Best Practices for Year-Round Safety
