Lessons Learned from ZeroNow’s Funding School Safety Initiatives Webinar: Beyond the Presentation

WSI Comandix on April 3, 2025

As a school leader, you know that school safety is a non-negotiable priority. But often, securing the funding you need to put effective, comprehensive safety solutions in place can be a challenge. You’re tasked with safeguarding your community, but are more often than not feeling the constraint of tight budgets and competing budgetary priorities.

The good news? Funding for school safety initiatives is more accessible than you might think—if you know where to look and how to navigate the process.

Information gathering is the first step to securing the funding you need to make school safety improvements a reality for your campus. That’s why Eastern DataComm is proud to partner with ZeroNow, a 501(c)6  alliance dedicated to ending school violence through collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. Together, we’re working to make schools safer by providing cutting-edge technology solutions like video surveillance, access control, environmental sensors, VoIP phone systems, and emergency notification systems, along with insight and guidance on the funding to make those upgrades and initiatives possible.

This month, we’re sharing our lessons learned from ZeroNow’s recent webinar, Funding School Safety Initiatives: Grants and Beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered how to fund those safety, security, and emergency communications upgrades that would make all the difference when every second counts, we’re here to help. You’ll find the insight you need as we explore actionable strategies to secure the funding you need to better protect your students, staff, and community.

Let’s get to it.

About the EDC + ZeroNow Partnership

At Eastern DataComm, our mission is to keep schools connected and protected through innovative safety and communications technologies. For over thirty-five years, we’ve worked with schools across the country to implement solutions that empower clear communication, enhance situational awareness, and save lives during emergencies.

Our partnership with ZeroNow reflects our commitment to advancing school safety. ZeroNow connects educators, security specialists, and technology experts to enhance collaboration and develop new solutions to keep schools safe today and make them safer for tomorrow. By partnering with this amazing organization, we amplify our impact and create real change in school safety technology and policy.

As Al Harnisch, CEO of Eastern DataComm, puts it: “We share ZeroNow’s dedication to providing educational resources to our customers and partners. We understand the magnitude and reach their decisions have when it comes to protecting young minds and educators.”

So naturally, when ZeroNow provides information and insight that can benefit our audience and clients, we connect with them and bring the latest updates right to you.

Now, let’s explore funding opportunities for creating safer schools and districts!

Challenges in School Safety Funding

While there are opportunities for school safety funding, it’s imperative to be aware of the potential obstacles you may face as you source funding options.

Competing Interests: School budgeting often involves addressing priorities like mental health, special education, and infrastructure. Understanding how to advocate for school safety improvements within these competing interests is a valuable step toward fostering a more secure school community.

Funding Volatility: Uncertainty in state or federal funding can make long-term planning difficult. Identifying workarounds to deal with this volatility can help make big-picture funding decisions easier.

Budgetary Structures: School safety budgets are often spread across multiple departments (e.g., counseling, facilities, IT) rather than being a dedicated line item. For example, North Penn School District streamlined its budgeting process by creating a dedicated budget for school safety, which included resources, capital, and technology allocations.

Transparency Risks: Taking a transparent stance on school safety may lead to public backlash, but it’s essential for building trust with stakeholders. Exploring how to be transparent and responsible is a necessary step in keeping schools and communities safe.

One-Time Grants: Jumpstarting Your Safety Initiatives

One-time grants help you kickstart school safety projects and fund critical infrastructure like video surveillance systems, access control solutions, and emergency notification systems. Let’s explore how to make the most of these funding opportunities.

Federal and State Grants

Programs like the STOP School Violence Act and state-specific safety grants provide substantial funding for school safety initiatives. These grants often prioritize technology solutions that enhance situational awareness and emergency response.

Private Foundations

Many private organizations offer grants specifically for school safety. These organizations can help you address your safety budget priorities more effectively. As we learned in the webinar, grants are a great way to fund capital projects.

Pro Tip

Start by identifying your district’s most pressing safety needs. Use tools like ZeroNow’s Path to Safer Schools framework or connect with our Eastern DataComm team to collaboratively assess vulnerabilities and prioritize investments with expert guidance.

Long-Term Funding Strategies: Building a Sustainable Safety Plan

While there’s no doubt one-time grants are a great starting point, long-term funding strategies allow your safety initiatives to remain effective and cutting-edge.

Let’s go over some ways to create your sustainable safety solution financing roadmap.

Incorporate Safety into Annual Budgets

When you treat safety as a core element of your district’s budget—not an afterthought—you’ll find that you can more effectively allocate funds annually for maintenance, upgrades, and staff training.

Leverage E-Rate Funding

Did you know that the federal E-Rate program can help cover the cost of VoIP phone systems and network infrastructure? These are, of course, critical components of a comprehensive safety plan in any building.

Explore Bond Measures

Voter-approved bonds allow districts to fund large-scale safety projects. The key here is to directly communicate the real-life benefits of these investments so that your community rallies behind them in support.

There is, no doubt, some complexity to federal and state funding programs. But these are also some of the most reliable sources of support for school safety initiatives.

So, if you’re looking to create opportunities for more dependable financing, here’s how to navigate these opportunities:

Stay Informed

Be sure you routinely check websites like Grants.gov and your state’s Department of Education for updates on available funding and schedule deadlines for relevant applications.

Partner with Experts

Don’t feel like you have to pursue these funding sources alone. Work with organizations like ZeroNow and Eastern DataComm to help identify grants that align with your district’s needs and the steps you need to take to reach your funding goals.

Pro Tip

Attend webinars and workshops or schedule consultations with these experts to stay up-to-date on funding opportunities and best practices. These learning opportunities will help you gain critical insights to better address your specific needs.

Transparency and Communication in School Safety

Building and maintaining transparency allows you to build trust with your community. Establish a regular cadence of communication, such as quarterly public forums, to share safety data and trends (e.g., discipline incidents, weapons, or assault cases). While over-communicating may feel excessive to some, it’s better than risking accusations of hiding information.

Use data-driven decision-making to demonstrate the return on investment of your safety initiatives. For example, North Penn School District shares discipline data quarterly, as board-adopted policy, to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.

Community Partnerships

Public-private partnerships can significantly enhance school safety while stretching limited budgets.

Community Engagement: Partner with local businesses, nonprofits, and law enforcement to fund no-cost programs. For example, North Penn School District partnered with their DA’s office to run an Innovative Youth Aid panel program across its secondary schools, which required no monetary investment from the district.

Shared Resources: Collaborate with neighboring districts to share the cost of safety solutions. This approach reduces expenses while still delivering high-quality results.

Structuring School Safety Budgets

There are some suggestions to consider when crafting your school safety budget for the coming year.

Dedicated budgeting allows for the provision of resources, technology, and capital as detailed above. It’s also important to focus on prioritization so that school leaders can dedicate the right resources to the cause and ensure priorities become line items in the budget.

Providing common sense solutions allows you to focus on practical, non-political solutions that the community can easily digest. Using a zero-based budget to prioritize safety initiatives, like the North Penn school district utilizes each year, helps to align your needs with community expectations.

Instituting monthly or quarterly committees to hold meetings on this topic can ensure that regular oversight occurs. These meetings can review safety priorities and help to ensure continuous improvement in your school’s security. As we learned in the webinar, the District hosts monthly committee meetings to oversee school safety efforts and foster transparency and trust within the school community.

Transparency and Communication in School Safety

Building and maintaining transparency allows you to build trust with your community. To make this possible, you can establish a regular cadence of a variety of communication and feedback opportunities, such as newsletters, quarterly public forums and school-based efforts to share and listen. This webinar describes the example of sharing discipline incidents, as

other districts do when they share weapons or assault cases. While over-communicating can feel excessive to some, it is far better than the alternative, which can feel like hiding information.

The webinar emphasized that communication is not the same as engagement. We need to establish ways to maintain a healthy feedback loop.

Also, be sure to use data-driven decision-making to demonstrate your return on investment regarding any safety initiatives you share. This keeps stakeholders informed and engaged with you on an ongoing basis.

The Role of School Safety Directors

School Safety Directors can play a critical role in shaping a secure learning community within your district. These professionals can hold cabinet-level positions within your superintendent’s team so that their voice is heard when it comes to key decisions. They should value the process of building relationships with students, staff, and the community at large. And they should advocate for legislative support that can fund safety priorities.

Proactive or Reactive School Safety Initiatives? The Choice Is Clear

Proactive safety measures, while they can feel risky at the outset, are essential for keeping your community safe and ahead of the curve when it comes to security processes to address evolving threats.

Transparency and data-driven decision-making can mitigate any potential backlash from your community about “unnecessary expenditures”, and a holistic approach that addresses the physical, training, and staffing needs of your organization allows for protection that meets all of your needs.

There is undeniable value in investing in prevention rather than reaction. But it’s also essential to have the data on your side as you go into advocacy for budget line items.

Your Path to Safer Schools Starts Here

Securing funding for school safety solutions doesn’t have to be something that you take on alone. And it doesn’t need to feel overwhelming, either. When you understand and use the right strategies and partnerships, you can access the resources you need to create a safer learning environment for your students and staff.

At Eastern DataComm, we’re here to help you every step of the way—from identifying funding opportunities to implementing cutting-edge safety technologies. Together with ZeroNow, we’re committed to making school violence a thing of the past.

And we want you to be a part of that change.

Take the Next Step

As a ZeroNow Partner, Eastern DataComm shares the vision of creating connected and protected school environments.

We offer cutting-edge security technologies and provide expert assistance in navigating the grant application process to help you secure the funding you need.

How We Can Support Your School:

Grant Navigation: Our team can help connect you with relevant resources and refer you to grant specialists to help guide you through the fund-securing process.

Advanced Safety Solutions: Eastern DataComm provides cutting-edge security technologies like video surveillance, access control systems, cellular repeaters, and environmental sensors to enhance school safety.

Ongoing Support: From planning to implementation, we’re here to help you every step of the way.

Together with ZeroNow, we’re committed to creating safer schools now and in the future. And we can’t wait to ensure you and your learning community are among them.

Because when it comes to school safety, we’re all in this together.

To learn more, contact us here.

About ZeroNow

ZeroNow is the safety community’s movement to end harmful events in our schools. As a member-based non-profit, ZeroNow facilitates collaboration between industry, associations, and education partners to foster new solutions to keep our campuses safe and secure.

ZeroNow brings safety assets and education safety leaders together to establish the standards for school safety technology. We drive a unified voice to educate policymakers on the need for increased investment in school safety. For more information, please visit www.zeronow.org.

Top Physical Security Tech Solutions to Safeguard Your Campus

WSI Comandix on November 1, 2024

How do you go about creating a safer school environment for your learning community? It’s certainly about more than a set of locks or a camera here and there. It’s far more complex and strategic than the individual solutions or assets themselves.

That’s why at Eastern DataComm, we encourage our customers to think in terms of a ‘School Safety Ecosystem’ (SSE), where policies, procedures, training, and technology work hand in hand.

When these pieces come together, they best safeguard your campus and create a district-wide culture of emergency preparedness that ensures students, staff, and guests know what to do and when. By understanding how each piece fits into the larger picture, schools can build a robust framework that prioritizes safety for everyone.

Checklist for School Safety Solutions

What Is Your School Safety Ecosystem?

The School Safety Ecosystem is a holistic way of thinking about the security of your school community that emphasizes the importance of blending different technologies and strategies. This approach helps schools create a cohesive communications plan. It provides clear notifications and empowers quick responses when emergencies arise.

When we take an ecosystem perspective, we prioritize technology solutions that facilitate fluid communication because we value effectiveness, integration, and efficiency.  Specifically, we value those that suit our individual school-specific needs, those that offer real-time notifications, and those that promote teamwork among everyone involved. User-friendly solutions and those that reduce the chance for human error are of the utmost importance. These are the solutions that make use easy when stress levels are high and every second counts.

Given the rise of violence on campuses and ever-evolving threats to the safety of learning environments, schools need to assess their current systems and identify areas for improvement. The next steps are to review available solutions, like those we’ll share below, and consider how these solutions might address those areas of concern within their own SSE.

Video Surveillance

Video surveillance systems are one of the primary physical security tools to keep campus safe. Their mere presence helps to deter potential threats. Additionally, using these systems assists with resolving issues by monitoring your school’s buildings and grounds 24/7/365.

When you have video surveillance systems in place, you discourage malicious behavior. Additionally, should a crime or other unwanted event occur, you’ll have evidence for corrective action or when legal action is warranted, court proceedings.

On its own, your video surveillance system is an integral part of a School Safety Ecosystem. However, when combined with access control systems and emergency notification systems,  it strengthens your ability to respond to emergencies more effectively and efficiently.

Enhancing Video Surveillance Without a Complete Overhaul

As video surveillance and video system security challenges arise, our team continues to work with customers to keep their schools and districts safe while keeping education budgets at the forefront of concerns.

That’s why we partner with industry-leading manufacturers like Verkada, who understand these challenges as well as we do. For example, Verkada’s Command Connector offers an alternative to costly rip-and-replace approaches that require you to start from scratch by leveraging existing camera hardware.

If you’re considering advancing or streamlining your video surveillance system, you can look to the Eastern DataComm team to help you increase efficiency. Best of all, with over 35 years of experience, we respect your budgetary guidelines so that the solution you choose addresses your most critical needs.

Environmental Sensors

Environmental sensors are technology tools that monitor a variety of conditions in the school environment. They track a myriad of conditions like temperature, detect vaping, and monitor air quality in areas like gymnasiums, classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, and cafeterias. These sensors enable you to ensure your students, visitors, and staff are safe and secure. Environmental sensor solutions act as another essential communications tool, providing alerts to school officials to apprise them of potential health and safety risks in real-time.

Integrating environmental sensors with other security technologies gives you a comprehensive picture of your school community. Ultimately, environmental sensors give you a chance to respond more efficiently and proactively to incidents and enhance overall safety.

At Eastern DataComm, Our Environmental Sensors Include Features Like

Safety Risk Monitoring:

  • Tamper detection
  • Temperature and humidity monitoring
  • Motion detection
  • Aggression detection
  • Gunshot detection
  • Occupancy monitoring
  • Noise monitoring

Health Risk Monitoring:

  • Carbon dioxide
  • Temperature and humidity of food and beverages
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Air quality index
  • Presence of particulates
  • TVOC
  • Vape detection
  • THC detection
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Smoking detection
  • Barometric pressure
  • Formaldehyde level

Leverage environmental sensors to support your entire school community’s safety and well-being.

Access Control Systems

Access control systems are essential in managing who enters school facilities. By controlling access points, schools can prevent unauthorized entry and ensure that only approved people have access to specific areas.

These systems enhance security during emergencies. Access control solutions help set clear visitor protocols. Implementing modern access control solutions allows schools to create a safe environment that meets their unique needs.

VoIP Phone Systems

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems are vital for communication in today’s schools. They provide clear call quality and work well with other safety technologies. VoIP systems can automate responses, reducing the risk of human error and enabling lockdown or protective emergency procedures at the touch of a button.

It also bears mentioning that recent FCC guidelines mandate certain capabilities for multi-line telephones, so you’ll want to be sure your VoIP system complies with federal regulations as well. To learn more about those guidelines, you can visit this resource that our team has developed on the subject.

The most effective VoIP phone systems allow schools to quickly connect with first responders and send out emergency notifications. With features like 911 compliance and integrated alerts, VoIP systems enhance the overall safety framework you develop within your SSE.

Wired/Wireless Networks and Infrastructure

A reliable communication network is essential for keeping our schools safe. Both wired and wireless systems are part of the core of the school safety ecosystem. Essentially, they form the backbone of the system. Strong infrastructure allows information to flow smoothly. When you have high-quality cabling and strong wireless connections, you’ll have the stability your school needs for quick communication.

A strong network supports the technology used within the School Safety Ecosystem. It’s what helps staff respond quickly in emergencies and keeps daily communications running as planned. Wired/wireless network solutions and their infrastructure create a foundation from which a secure environment is built.

Cellular Repeater Solutions

Cellular repeaters have a very important role in the ecosystem. They enhance mobile communication by amplifying cell signals throughout school buildings. Wherever you might find yourself with a bad signal or weak reception, these devices ensure that mobile phones function optimally.

Cellular repeaters aid in the prevention of things like dropped calls and slow data transfers. Simply put, cellular repeaters contribute to the overall reliability of communication systems during emergencies and for day-to-day communications.

Paging Systems, Bell Systems, and Synchronized Clocks

Effective communication is vital during the school day and especially so during emergencies. Paging systems, bell systems, and synchronized clocks ensure that messages are delivered clearly and quickly.

These systems can be integrated with emergency procedures so you can deliver clear instructions during urgent situations, helping to keep everyone informed and safe. Plus the reliability of synchronized systems adds predictability to daily routines, which is crucial in stressful situations.

Emergency Notification Systems

Let’s be honest, not all emergency notification systems are created equal. Some rely on a single mobile or smart device application, while others send text messages that might not reach school visitors, substitute teachers, support staff, new student teachers, transfer students, students with disabilities, or brand-new students.

Comprehensive solutions like Eastern DataComm’s LENS (Lockdown and Emergency Notification System) offer rapid response capabilities. With features such as one-button alerts and automated notifications, LENS ensures that all stakeholders are informed during critical events.

The integration of various communication methods—visual, auditory, and mobile—creates a holistic approach to campus safety, ensuring that everyone, from students to emergency personnel, receives timely and accurate information.

Safety Starts with a Comprehensive Perspective

Building a strong School Safety Ecosystem involves integrating various technologies. When you combine an understanding of your own school community’s needs and the right strategic use of technology (like those mentioned above), your school can foster a secure environment that prioritizes wellbeing.

This comprehensive approach not only protects students and staff, but also cultivates a culture of preparedness that empowers the entire school community.

Our Team Is Here to Help Yours

At Eastern DataComm, we’re dedicated to helping you keep your school community connected and protected. Contact us for your complimentary school safety audit.

Together, we’ll identify your strengths and vulnerabilities and discuss how to enhance those areas with the right-fit technology.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to get your copy of our guide, Building a Safer School Ecosystem, here.

The 2024 Ed Tech Grant Opportunity Update

WSI Comandix on March 5, 2024

At Eastern DataComm, we’re passionate about keeping your school communities connected and protected. As your vendor partner, we’re no strangers to the reality that the physical security technology solutions that make that safety possible require financial investments and strategic budgeting.

That’s why this month we’re highlighting available grant opportunities to address your safety and physical security challenges. Importantly, one such funding source issued by the United States government addresses an emerging threat: non-compliant video surveillance technology. Read on to learn more about grant opportunities for which your organization may qualify.

Revisiting Eastern DataComm Articles Regarding School Safety and Communication Funding Resources

Before we introduce the latest safety and security challenges facing schools and other organizations across the country, we wanted to remind you that each year, Eastern DataComm shares resources regarding funding opportunities to help you make your school’s next communications or security solution project possible. Here are two of our most recent blogs on the topic, including what you can expect to find by reviewing the pieces themselves.

Ten 2023–2024 Funding Opportunities & Educational Resources for School Safety & Communications Technologies

In Ten 2023–2024 Funding Opportunities & Educational Resources for School Safety & Communications Technologies, we share financial opportunities for those in Virginia, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

We also include a link to the nationally available grant finder tool that schools across the U.S. can use to search for financial support that may be applicable to the projects they’d like to make possible in their learning communities. This grant finder tool is easily accessible, simple to navigate, and even allows users to discern how much time they have to dedicate to completing a grant application. Even if you do not yet have a grant writer on your staff or on contract, you can begin to apply for grants at your convenience.

This article is proof positive that sourcing funding for improvements to physical and technology infrastructure to provide for school safety improvements is possible.

5 Can’t-Miss Grant Opportunities to Fund School Safety Improvements

In 5 Can’t-Miss Grant Opportunities to Fund School Safety Improvements, we not only share grant opportunities that can help you fund your school safety improvements if you live in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, but also how to go about applying for these opportunities in those states.

The purpose of sharing these opportunities alongside the steps to apply for them is to facilitate an easier application process. Eastern DataComm believes that funding should not be an obstacle to creating safer, more secure, and more connected school communities. Not only can our team help point you to the right grant opportunities, but through our network of industry partners, we can also refer you to expert grant writers who can help you navigate and complete the grant application process.

We believe that more secure learning communities with clear and effective communication are better prepared for emergencies and better able to facilitate daily learning. When we work with our school and district partners, we do our best to help them find the funding they need for the projects that will best address their needs, keeping their communities connected and protected.

Eastern DataComm: Addressing Cutting-Edge Security Needs

Keeping our finger on the pulse of the challenges our school, business, and government agency customers face, we feel it necessary and important to share with our readers a recent security and compliance challenge that is still evolving.

In an effort to keep all of our customers informed as we do our part to ensure their communications and safety solutions, we’ve consolidated the details below to help you assess whether or not your community may be at risk for a non-compliance issue that can have a significant impact on the safety of your organization.

As more information regarding the technology issues, compliance requirements, and funding opportunities becomes available, we will continue to share with our audience relevant insight that leads to proactive correction. Read on to learn more about this increasingly pressing issue.

A Critical Video Surveillance Safety Challenge in 2024

The United States government has prohibited specific telecommunications equipment produced by particular companies. Namely, Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation, HiSilicon Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, Dahua Technology Company, or any subsidiary of these organizations. The equipment is prohibited from being used for public safety, government facility security, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, or as covered equipment under Section 889.

The inclusion of HiSilicon is of vital importance as this means that the prohibition includes not only video surveillance cameras and recorders, but also the Systems on a Chip (SOC) which are the core or ‘brain’ of the camera itself.

The ban covers new, old, and existing contracts. In sum, the government’s ban covers a multitude of devices and video surveillance solutions, making their swift and immediate removal mandatory.

Funding to Rip & Replace Non-Compliant Video Surveillance Technology

This safety challenge is a relatively recent discovery. The full understanding of the reach and magnitude of this threat is still evolving. But the good news, funding sources to rip and replace non-compliant technology are now becoming available. The first major federal funding to address this issue is from FEMA.

As the issue is so widespread, the process of addressing, removing, revamping, and replacing video surveillance systems across the nation will take quite some time. It will, no doubt, occur over years. To accomplish the planning, selection of compliant equipment, completion of a labor-intensive removal of non-compliant technology, and installation of an approved surveillance system requires a systematic approach. And so, FEMA’s plan places priority on high-risk locations to provide the greatest level of safety and security possible for communities facing this threat.

This non-compliance issue is incredibly layered. There are also a myriad of considerations beyond physical security, including data and cybersecurity: the safety of critical infrastructure and online information that could fall into the wrong hands.

Through a process of planning, funding, and action, the replacement of these video surveillance systems will provide for greater security. The funding provided by FEMA will help schools and other organizations make that process possible.

Want to Learn More? Schedule Your Complimentary Consultation Today

In next month’s blog, we’ll share more details on the regulations, best practices, and challenges that Hikvision and related video surveillance systems present to schools, businesses, and government organizations regarding their safety and security.

In the meantime, we invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your best course of action in addressing your organization’s physical security and communications projects.

Our team is uniquely qualified to refer to independent consultants and grant writers to assist with securing funding projects. We’ll work with you to ensure that you and all those you are charged with protecting remain safe and secure.

…Because when it comes to safety, we’re all in this together. Contact us today.

5 Ways to Keep Your School Safe from Intruders

WSI Comandix on August 7, 2023

At Eastern DataComm, we’ve covered ways to keep your school safe from intruders in past pieces. In this blog, we’re sharing an updated look at these issues, including five approaches you can take to keep your schools connected and protected. Improve your school’s safety and communications profile by reading along and implementing these recommendations.

#1 Consider Your Whole School Safety Ecosystem

Our Eastern DataComm team is passionate about strategizing and supporting the technology systems that impact the entire school safety ecosystem. And with good reason: A holistic approach to preventing intruders includes a variety of aspects that you may not have initially considered as ‘essential’ to full safety success. The truth is that these facets, from planning, compliance, and protocol development, to practice drills and technology, are interwoven – working in unison to create a safe environment for all. 

Two examples of enhancing your school safety ecosystem include (1) the creation and execution of a school safety plan and (2) the education of students and stakeholders on that plan.

Every school needs an effective safety plan for addressing a host of potential issues, including unwanted intruders, emergencies, and lockdowns resulting from identified threats like active shooter incidents. School safety plans are comprised of a variety of assets, including site assessments, threat assessments, and employee and student training.

Training educators, staff, and students in effective responses to lockdowns and other intruder threats results in a school-wide understanding of the precautionary measures and the in-circumstance behaviors that are needed to save and preserve lives. Simply put: When students and others in the building are aware of how to respond and practice such responses regularly, even if they may be frightened during a real intruder event, they will still be able to take action immediately – out of habit rather than out of panic and confusion. That, in itself, saves lives.

#2: Upgrade Outdated Technology to Enhance Emergency Response

Schools across the country are working diligently to protect students, staff, and educators each day and our team is here to help. 

One of the primary ways we support our clients is to consult with them regularly – offering our insights on advancements in safety and communications technology that can benefit their unique needs. Additionally, we diagnose areas of concern in need of improvement and highlight strengths in their existing systems that can be leveraged for integration with new safety technologies. Let’s explore this example: You’ve just installed a state-of-the-art video surveillance system. But your intercom system produces less-than-optimal function resulting from years or decades of adding on speakers without an overarching strategy behind those additions. After performing a diagnostic review and confirming that your surveillance system is delivering optimal results, our recommendations for improvements focus on removing the limitations of your current intercom solution, which could be best addressed by upgrades to your VoIP and paging systems.

In many cases, learning which outdated technology is in need of an upgrade and then taking corrective action to implement an improved solution is an excellent way to protect your school’s buildings and grounds from intruders. It creates a greater likelihood of swift and effective responses during emergencies. And that’s a step in the right direction you’ll want to make sure you take.

#3: Ensure Telecommunications Devices and Systems Provide Crystal-Clear Communication

In an emergency, every second counts. And muffled voices or unclear phone conversations can mean disaster when an intruder is entering or attempting to enter your buildings or grounds. 

That’s why, at Eastern DataComm, we work with our clients to ensure they’re heard loud and clear when it matters most.

VoIP phone systems are the gold standard for schools and districts in need of clear communication. And with recent legislation requiring phone systems to have certain emergency-related capabilities, it’s more important than ever to consider your voice options.

VoIP systems also provide the opportunity to integrate the phone system with emergency notification systems and other safety technology solutions. And these systems can be customized to meet the needs of your school community in ways that make daily calls and even district-wide communication easier than before.

#4 Look for Ways to Enhance Security in Your Buildings and on Your Grounds

From access control to video surveillance and even paging systems, there are a variety of ways to enhance the overall security of your schools and district. But the important consideration is what makes the most sense for your needs and goals.

For example, video surveillance, when done well, can help to keep an around-the-clock eye on your buildings and grounds. This means you can monitor for intruders and immediately react as needed.

Access control systems allow you to control door locks and equip entryways with an added layer of security against intruders. This also helps make entry in the morning and dismissal less chaotic for visitors, staff, and students.

And, as the community learns of these added layers of protection, the systems you implement become a deterrent to those considering perpetrating unwanted actions.

#5 Remove the Chance for Human Error Wherever Possible with Integrated Technology

Intruder incidents can be terrifying and devastating if not responded to quickly and correctly. That’s why our Eastern DataComm team created an integrated technology system that reduces the chance of human error by ensuring all of your safety and security technology solutions are working together.

The Lockdown and Emergency Notification System and continuous monitoring service (LENS + OPTICS) provides comprehensive message dissemination when every second counts. It integrates with your school’s paging system as well as with your school’s VoIP phone system, lights and signage, access control, and video surveillance systems. The result is a swift and effective response to intruders that can be activated at the push of a button, by entering a code on a phone, or using an app-based initiation from a smart device.

Systems like this greatly reduce the chance of human error or having an emergency message ‘lost in translation’ when stress is high and time is limited. Utilizing this technology increases the chance that everyone in your buildings and on your grounds understands that there is an active threat or urgent situation occurring and can react as policy, procedure, and drill rehearsals have dictated. From LED beacons and signboards to PC pop-up messages, to emails, texts, and automated calls to police, everything is handled fast and efficiently.

Plus, OPTICS, the system self-monitoring technology, ensures that there is always a watchful eye on the components that enable optimal performance of your LENS system. Simply put, OPTICS ensures everything in your LENS system is running as it should be. 

By leveraging these technology solutions to your advantage, you can focus on what needs your attention most during an emergency.

Safer Schools Start Here

Reach out to Eastern DataComm today to schedule a customized School Safety Consultation to keep your learning community connected and protected.

Also Read:

7 Ways to Improve School Safety for the 2023–2024 School Year

WSI Comandix on July 5, 2023

In 2021, our Eastern DataComm team released a blog regarding five ways to improve school safety. 

Today, with over twenty recent incidents of school violence continuing to devastate districts across the country, we’re revisiting this topic with renewed focus. As we continue our commitment to be part of the solution, we’re bringing you seven ways you can improve school safety in the upcoming school year.

We hope this insight will help you and your fellow school or district stakeholders have impactful conversations about enhancing safety in your buildings and on your grounds. We encourage you to leverage this information to assist with ensuring your school remains a safe learning environment for all those you serve.

7 Ways to Boost School Safety in 2023–2024

1. Practice Emergency Plans (for Quick Lockdowns)

A great first step in improving your school or district’s safety is to refine, enhance, and practice your emergency response plans.

From lockdowns and active shooter events to shelter in place and evacuation drills, when repetition is combined with effective planning and the right technology, schools become safer by design.

This is perhaps most evident when it comes to lockdown drills and preparing for urgent events like those that make national headlines. 

As a stakeholder at one of our client districts explains,

“If everybody can lock down before that perpetrator gets into the hallway, and the hallways are clear, that person’s going to be going down the hallway, looking for kids … and we’re locked down.

“So it is extremely, extremely relevant and important that the faster that we have the ability to put the school on lockdown, the more lives that we could be saving… With our drills, we’re locked down, basically clearing the halls within 10 seconds … And the more quickly we secure the buildings, that’s more lives that we’re going to save.”

– District Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator

A Burlington County, NJ, School District

There is no way to overstate the vital nature of swift and effective lockdowns. And that all begins with practice.

2. Monitor School Visitors

Another key way to improve your school’s overall safety is to ensure you can effectively monitor school visitors. 

School identification cards are a great first step for staff, educators, administrators, aides, and students. But what about parents, guardians, and other visitors?

When it comes to improving school safety, technology solutions like video surveillance and access control can help you keep unwanted visitors out of your school and allow those who need access to your learning community to gain entry in a way you can track, monitor, and regulate.

3. Create a Supportive Environment

Improving school safety requires a supportive environment. And a supportive environment encompasses administrative and counseling support for students who need it. While those resources are incredibly essential and impactful, they’re only part of the story.

The school safety ecosystem also includes resource officers and police, training, threat assessment, compliance with state and federal law, and technology infrastructure. That technology infrastructure, in order to be effective, must be comprehensive. Total coverage ensures everyone can be made aware of an emergency quickly and effectively. With tech solutions like video surveillance, access control, paging systems, and VoIP phone systems, your safety technology ecosystem becomes all the more responsive. 

Creating a supportive environment begins with empowering confidence. That comes from knowing that everyone can get the important emergency notification messages they need when it matters most. This is achieved through utilizing and integrating underlying systems that enable rapid communication when every second counts.

4. Get Stakeholders Involved throughout the Process of Making Your School Safer

Making schools and districts safer is a team effort. The most commonly recognized players are our school administrators, staff, teachers, counselors, technology professionals, and the local emergency services teams. 

But it bears mentioning that custodians, parents, guardians, teaching aides, school board members, and PTA members can also help to actively improve school safety when they’re brought to the table to share their insights. Whether it’s a feedback session, more formal meetings, or presentations at their meetings, getting these groups on board is a great asset.

It also serves to keep everyone on the same page in case of a real emergency.

Each of these groups or individuals has a unique perspective on what’s working, what may need improvement, and how that improvement might be achieved. And they all share in your goal of protecting those within your school walls and on your grounds each day.

5. Create Partnerships That Foster a More Robust School Safety Ecosystem

Fostering a truly comprehensive and robust school safety ecosystem also includes those in disciplines beyond education.

Enhancing your relationships with local emergency responders and police is a great place to start. While you’ve surely established these relationships, it can be impactful to foster them with more regular meetings, an ongoing discussion on potential improvements, and an exploration of enhancements for things like drills and best practices. 

Developing partnerships with a safety and communications technology partner like Eastern DataComm is also immensely valuable. These relationships can help you prepare in every possible way for an emergency, unearthing vulnerabilities you and your team may not yet have been aware of, but now can proactively address. Ultimately, building these relationships can lead to a stronger school safety ecosystem overall. Professionals can help you strategically improve your school safety ecosystem by educating, implementing, and advising you regarding your school’s evolving needs. Our team at Eastern DataComm is dedicated to doing just that.

6. Recognize Potential Vulnerabilities in Your Buildings and Grounds and Work to Address Them

It can be devastating to reflect on past tragedies from Columbine to Uvalde and realize that our schools may have similar challenges when it comes to safety even today. But the very act of identifying these potential areas of vulnerability is a step in the right direction.

One way to begin the process of identifying issues in your buildings and grounds is to connect with your team and a safety and technology advisor or vendor partner. Together, you can move through a comprehensive assessment and create a game plan for enhancements that will really make all the difference in the event of a school-wide emergency.

At Eastern DataComm, our team begins this process. Our school safety consultative and diagnostic approach allows us to partner with schools and districts to assess and take meaningful action to address areas of potential vulnerability and empowers our customers to take charge of creating safer schools for today and beyond.

7. Consider Integrating Your School Safety Technology for Swifter, Streamlined Responses to Emergencies

A final consideration that bears noting when it comes to improving your school’s safety is the power of integration. Integrating your technology solutions, from phones to public address (PA) systems, video surveillance to access control, can reduce the chance of human error during stress-filled emergency situations.

Eastern DataComm’s LENS + OPTICS system is a practical example of this integrated approach to school safety. The Lockdown and Emergency Notification System (and its self-monitoring OPTICS system) allow schools to immediately notify everyone on campus, along with law enforcement and first responders, once a threat has been recognized.

The process begins with the push-button activation of a lockdown, shelter-in-place, or evacuation. This emergency notification solution includes scalable, integrated technology from phones, wireless devices, strobes, and pre-recorded notifications. This comprehensive approach to lockdowns ensures that everyone is aware of the situation and can respond efficiently and effectively, with a reduced risk of human error. 

For further customization, the integrations can be personalized to the needs of your school so that you have the means to achieve a connected and protected school environment.

It’s truly the system you want in place when every second counts.

Improving School Safety Starts with the Right Technology Partner

If you’re a teacher looking to make your school a safer place, we encourage you to share this resource with your administration. 

And if you’re an administrator, we’d love to connect with you to explore technology solutions that augment your emergency operations plans.

Reach out to Eastern DataComm today to schedule a customized School Safety Consultation to keep your community connected and protected.

Also Read: 5 Ways to Improve Schools Safety

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