As of the end of 2023, there were more than 35 school shootings in the United States. And each of them resulted in injuries or fatalities. Behind those numbers are lives and communities ravaged by devastating events. Here at Eastern DataComm, those lives lost and forever changed have strengthened our resolve to keep our customers’ schools connected and protected.
So, this month we’re encouraging you to review your safety and communications policies, procedures, and technology solutions and to create resolutions that guide your next steps in the new year. From enhancing your holistic school safety ecosystem to funding those enhancements, the following resolutions are just a few of the ways you can ensure your school or district has a safer and happier end to your school year.
Resolution 1: Start with Clear Communication and an Enhanced, Compliant VoIP Phone System
So where can you start when making safety and communications resolutions to keep your school community connected and protected this year?
We’d suggest starting with clear, effective, and fast-acting communication.
Whether you need to refine or enhance your existing system or implement a brand new one to make your communications in an emergency streamlined and worry-free, VoIP phone systems are a great place to start. In fact, in recent years, the federal government has updated its regulations and requirements governing this technology to ensure that all multi-line phone systems make emergency response easier than ever. You can read about these regulations here and learn more about Eastern DataComm’s FCC-compliant VoIP phone solutions here.
Starting with your phone system ensures that you can be heard loud and clear in an emergency and makes mass communication faster and more effective. So, resolving to enhance your communications across your buildings and grounds is a great way to kick off the new year.
Resolution 2: Enhance School Safety and Communications Technology Solutions with the Right Funding and Stakeholder Support
While it makes sense that you’ll want your teachers, staff, and other stakeholders to take an active role in the policies and procedures that keep you safe, it can be challenging to know where to start. If you’re looking for insight, you can review our blog on the topic of administrator and teacher roles.
And once your administration and teachers are clear on their roles and feel empowered to take them on, the next enhancement you can make may require some funding. This can also present challenges of its own.
Luckily, state and federal sources of funding are appearing more and more often and you can find some potential funding sources in our blog here.
Getting your finances and your stakeholders on board can make a world of difference in how you approach everything from emergency drills to real-life urgent situations. So resolving to address these areas is a step in the right direction.
Resolution 3: Holistic, Purposeful Technology Solutions Strategy
The last resolution we’ll explore today may be the most impactful of all. This is a resolution you can make when it comes to the safety and well-being of those in your learning community and it all comes down to the big-picture strategy.
Whatever challenges you’re looking to overcome or aspects of your school safety ecosystem you’re looking to improve, strategy is key. And relying on a single solution to address all your needs is foolhardy at best.
That’s why in our Best Practices Guide, we explore how best to implement a comprehensive approach to your school safety ecosystem. (You can download the guide here.)
In the guide, we share the solutions that make up a holistic school safety ecosystem, including
- Video Surveillance Systems
- Access Control Systems
- Bells and Clocks
- VoIP Phone Systems
- Integrated Emergency Response Systems
The guide also shares strategies for developing enhanced, swift, and more effective responses during emergencies.
When you resolve to take a comprehensive approach to your school safety ecosystem, you’ll be taking steps to prevent potential issues from becoming tragedies and stepping up the ways you respond to the needs of your unique school community.
That’s a resolution with a true win-win outcome.
Conclusion
The safety and communications solutions resolutions that you put into practice will certainly be unique to your campus community. But there’s no doubt that everything you resolve to do in this new year is driving to one goal: staying connected and protected.
Kick off the New Year with an Enhanced School Safety Ecosystem
Our team can help your school stay connected and protected with the latest in physical security and communications technology.
Reach out to Eastern DataComm today to explore your options for an enhanced school safety ecosystem. Schedule a customized School Safety Consultation to keep your school or district safe. Contact us today at https://easterndatacomm.com/contact-us/
