School Safety Solutions Archives

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.

Strengthening Access Control for Schools: Beyond Visitor Management

While monitoring visitors is essential, schools must take a proactive approach to access control to prevent unauthorized entry.

Key Access Control Solutions

Electronic Badge Systems – Require students, staff, and visitors to scan ID badges at entry points, ensuring only authorized individuals can access school buildings.
Remote Locking Mechanisms – Allow administrators to secure all doors remotely during an emergency, preventing intruders from moving freely through the school.
Door Prop Alarm Systems – Detect propped-open doors and send alerts to security personnel, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Man-Trap Entryways – A two-door entry system that requires visitor verification before allowing full access, adding an extra layer of security.

How Schools Can Implement Stronger Access Control

Conduct monthly access audits to identify vulnerabilities in entry points and lock systems.
Integrate access control with emergency notification systems to trigger automatic lockdowns.
Train staff on how to use and enforce access control protocols effectively.

School Safety Laws and Compliance: What Schools Must Follow

Beyond emergency planning and security upgrades, compliance with federal and state safety laws is essential to ensuring a legally sound and effective security strategy.

Federal Regulations That Impact School Security

Kari’s Law – Requires that all multi-line telephone systems (MLTS) allow users to dial 911 directly without needing to dial a prefix. This ensures instant emergency communication from any school phone.

RAY BAUM’s Act – Schools must ensure that 911 calls provide a precise location, such as room number or building name, so first responders know exactly where to go.

Alyssa’s Law – Requires schools to install silent panic alarms directly connected to law enforcement, reducing response times during emergencies.

Why Compliance Matters

Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to delays in emergency response, legal liabilities, and funding issues. Schools should routinely audit their phone systems, emergency notification tools, and access control measures to ensure compliance.

The Financial Impact of School Security: Why Investment Is Essential

Some schools delay security upgrades due to budget constraints, but investing in education security is not optional—it’s necessary.

The Hidden Costs of Security Failures

Schools that experience security breaches, unauthorized intrusions, or emergency response delays can face the following:

Legal consequences if safety compliance is not met.
Higher insurance premiums due to increased liability risks.
Potential loss of funding if state safety standards are violated.

Federal and State Funding for School Safety

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – Provides $1 billion in federal grants for school security and mental health programs.
STOP School Violence Act – Offers funding for security technology, threat assessments, and school safety training.
State-Level Grants – Many states offer specific funding opportunities for access control, emergency notification systems, and security infrastructure upgrades.

How Schools Can Secure Funding for Safety Upgrades

Identify grant opportunities through state and federal agencies.
Work with security vendors like Eastern DataComm to build a cost-effective implementation plan.
Leverage community partnerships for additional financial support.

The Future of School Security: Emerging Technologies to Watch

Advancements in security technology continue to shape how schools detect threats, respond to emergencies, and improve communication.

AI-Powered Security Enhancements

Facial Recognition Entry Systems – Restrict access to authorized personnel and flag unknown individuals in real time.
Gun Detection AI for Security Cameras – Uses pattern recognition software to detect weapons and alert authorities instantly.
Automated Lockdown Systems – AI-driven access control that automatically locks doors when a threat is detected.
Smart Panic Buttons – Wireless devices that trigger instant lockdowns and emergency alerts when activated.

Integration with Existing School Security Systems

New security technologies must be compatible with existing infrastructure, such as intercom systems, video surveillance, and access control tools, to ensure a seamless emergency response.

Improving School Safety Starts with the Right Technology Partner

Creating a safe and secure learning environment requires proactive planning, the right technology, and expert guidance. 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.

At Eastern DataComm, we help schools implement:

Advanced access control systems to restrict and monitor entry.
Emergency notification solutions that integrate with paging, text, and digital signage.
VoIP phone systems that meet Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act compliance.
AI-powered security enhancements for real-time threat detection.

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

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

WSI Comandix on March 1, 2023

Did you know that there are a variety of funding resources to improve your school’s safety technology?

In fact, after the Parkland Florida tragedy in 2018, the government instituted a 1-billion dollars in spending over 10 years dedicated to improving school safety. Now schools are beginning to utilize that funding in earnest. And in order to facilitate this spending, schools can now explore potential grants on a government website using their Grants Finder Tool.

While we all recognize the need to ensure the safety and security of our school communities, funding communication and safety technology for schools (from emergency notification to federally compliant VoIP phone systems) can present a challenge. But at Eastern DataComm we believe that funding should not become an obstacle to preventing future school tragedies through tech solutions.

Partnering with Eastern DataComm to explore the right safety solutions for your school or district is a great first step. When we collaborate we’ll not only design a school safety and communications solution that’s right for you, we’ll dive into the best grants and financial pathways to funding it. Having a school safety and security partner makes these fiscal efforts easier and more accessible than ever.

In today’s blog, we’re exploring some available grants and offering insight on how to access them.

Grant 1 Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Targeted Grants

The state of Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Targeted Grants are designed to support schools in addressing school violence.

What Are Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Targeted Grants And Why Are They Helpful to Districts?

These grants help schools fund relevant school safety programs and equipment needs each year. The funds are distributed through a competitive review process and an application process that involves certain requirements along with a scoring system to measure the appropriateness of funding.

What The Pennsylvania Safe Schools Grant Covers

Those who receive the grant can garner up to $50,000 in funding. Schools can apply to cover up to 25% of the cost of security audits and relevant reviews.

According to the grant authorized expenses for the grant funding include:

“Risk assessment, safety-related, violence prevention curricula, including, but not limited to, dating violence curricula and restorative justice strategies
Training to assess risk factors that increase the likelihood of problem behaviors among students across the school entity or nonpublic school
Comprehensive school safety, violence prevention, emergency preparedness, and all hazard plans inclusive of the whole school entity or nonpublic school, including revisions or updates to such plans and conducting emergency preparedness drills and related activities with local emergency responders
Security planning and purchase of security-related technology which may include metal detectors, protective lighting, surveillance equipment, special emergency communications equipment, electronic locksets, deadbolts, and theft control devices, and training in the use of security-related technology
Institution of student, staff, and visitor identification systems, including criminal background check software
An Internet-based system for the management of student discipline, including misconduct and criminal offenses; and

How to Apply for Pennsylvania’s Safe Schools Targeted Grants

A multidisciplinary team reviews applications and places weight on the schools’ needs which are documented by application data. All required information must be submitted for the team to consider your application.

Applications are reviewed in the fall (see this past year’s details here). You can apply for up to $50,000 and the funding you receive can defray costs you experience from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

Should you have any questions or require help, contact Russell Alves at [email protected] for assistance.

As the deadline for this grant may have passed by the time you’re reviewing this blog, we suggest bookmarking this funding opportunity for next year. And we invite you to reach out to our Eastern DataComm team in the meanwhile to prepare for next year’s application.

Grant 2: Connecticut’s School Security Grant Program

Connecticut’s School Security Grant Program is a competitive grant program that helps districts defray the costs that accompany necessary infrastructure improvements related to security and emergency communication.

What Is Connecticut’s School Security Grant Program And Why Is It Helpful to Districts?

The School Security Grant Program is designed to help schools and districts fund improvements that protect their schools. The grant provides Connecticut’s public schools with the opportunity to seek funding for valuable safety and security features to enhance their school safety ecosystems. In addition to key physical security features like fencing and ballistic glass, the grant also includes categories for technology and communications upgrades related to ensuring the security of buildings and grounds.

What Does Connecticut’s School Security Grant Program Grant Cover?

The SSGP funding a school district may receive can be used toward several school communication and security priorities.

According to the grant, these priorities include:

Internal and external cameras
Portable entrance security devices
Panic alarm systems
Communications systems like internal radios or public address systems
Access control systems, like computer-controlled locks, scan card systems, and door buzzer systems
Vendor provided training (only vendor provided training on new equipment purchased under the grant program)

How To Apply For Connecticut’s School Security Grant Program

Like The multi-media grant described below, the application is made up of two-part. First is a general information and demographic portion. Second is a self-assessment that you’ll complete with the help of law enforcement. You must complete both parts by the deadline to be considered for funding.

All applications for this opportunity are due on March 31, 2023, by 3 pm EST.

Any questions should be directed by email to [email protected] or by phone at 860-256-0800.

Grant 3: Connecticut’s Multi-Media School Security Grant Program

The state of Connecticut’s Multi-Media School Security Grant Program is designed to provide schools with security upgrades that include the ability to provide relevant communication and notification to law enforcement.

What Is The Multi-Media School Security Grant Program And Why Is It Helpful to Districts?

The Multi-Media School Security Grant Program helps schools including charter, tech, public, and regional schools with funding for relevant safety upgrades.

What The Multi-Media School Security Grant Program Grant Covers

The Multi-Media School Security Grant Program covers a variety of projects related to the safety, security, and communications needs of schools.

According to the grant these projects include:

Internal and external cameras that transmit real-time video to law enforcement
panic alarm systems that transmit real-time notifications directly to law enforcement
Radio systems that tie into law enforcement
Integration of current systems to provide a direct line of communications to law enforcement
Vendor provided training (only vendor provided training on new equipment purchased under the grant program)

How to Apply for The Multi-Media School Security Grant Program

Like The school security grant described above, the application for the Multi-Media School Security Grant Program is a two-part application. The first part includes a PDF regarding your school’s demographics, project description, budget, and relevant points of contact.

The second portion is a self-assessment that you can complete online with law enforcement assistance. This portion is focused on your school’s security. Funding consideration is only given to those who complete both parts of the application and this application is separate from the SSGP application.

That being said, you need only complete one self-assessment if you decide to apply for both this grant and the SSGP grant.

Funding priority will be given to those schools that did not previously receive this funding.

All applications for this opportunity are due on March 31, 2023, by 3 pm EST.

Any questions should be directed by email to [email protected] or by phone at 860-256-0800.

Grant 4: New York’s Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant

The Non-Public School Safety Grant is a unique funding opportunity for nonpublic schools in New York State.

What Is Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant and Why Is It Helpful To Districts?

The Nonpublic School Safety Equipment Grant offers nonpublic schools reimbursement for safety and health-related expenses. The grant helps currently operating religious and independent Schools with a valid BEDS code to fund relevant projects for school safety equipment.

What The Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant Covers

According to the grant, three are a variety of projects that may qualify for funding.

These include:

Access control systems
- An intercom to speak to visitors
- Remote electronic door unlatching system
- External cameras
- Interface with the building management system
Central lockdown buttons
School security and safety assessments to assist school officials in identifying potential vulnerabilities, as well as strengths relating to security and safety for students, staff, and visitors

How to Apply for Nonpublic School Safety Equipment (NPSE) Grant

Currently-open Religious and Independent Schools with a BEDS code (and who have filed BEDS enrollment data for the 2021-22 school year that includes grades Kindergarten and higher) can apply by March 31, 2023, for grant funding.

Further questions regarding this grant opportunity can be directed to the state Office of Religious and Independent Schools, [email protected] and you can learn more about the grant here.

Grant 5: New Jersey’s Regular Operating Districts Grant

New Jersey’s Regular Operating Districts Grant (ROD) is designed to address high-priority projects in New Jersey Public schools to assure that the schools are providing high-quality facilities to match their high-quality instructional practices.

What Is Regular Operating Districts (ROD) Grant and Why Is It Helpful To Districts?

ROD offers $350 million for capital projects in the state of New Jersey’s 550 Regular Operating Districts. It helps schools by providing funding opportunities for capital maintenance requirements, emergent needs, infrastructure upgrades, and other facilities projects.

The grant is also evidence of New Jersey’s commitment to providing students with exemplary learning environments and to keeping those environments safe and secure places for learning to occur. This funding is also focused on extending the life cycle of schools across New Jersey so that investments are made for the long-term success of each district.

What The Regular Operating Districts (ROD) Grant Covers

The grant will cover at least 40% of a school district’s costs incurred from eligible projects. There are 13 eligible categories and to qualify a project must be fully eligible under one of those categories. Funding begins after the submission of all documents required and approval of the application. Districts can receive payments at specific project milestones.

When it comes to what is covered by the ROD grant, those 13 categories cover a variety of areas. Several of the project funding areas relate to vital safety and security solutions. That being said, some of the project categories, according to the grant, include:

Security and communications systems (Includes essential systems)
Technology infrastructure upgrades
Special population needs (For program expansion or educational adequacy)
Existing site upgrades, excluding athletic fields and tracks (Including upgrades to sidewalks, paving, fencing, and security lighting)
Renovation and/or new construction of capacity-generating classrooms to address overcrowding or substandard conditions.

How to Apply for The Regular Operating Districts (ROD) Grant

Applying for the ROD grant requires that you apply by May 1, 2023. From there, the Department of Education will discern your eligibility and determine it in 90 days.

The New Jersey Department of Education reviews applications and funds are disbursed by the School Development Authority upon approval.

A Partner Who Helps You Understand Your Funding Options for School Safety Solutions

Partnering with Eastern DataComm as your safety and communications partner helps you create a holistic approach to school safety and understand the path forward when it comes to funding its implementation.

Enhance Your School’s Security with Help from Eastern DataComm

Are you interested in applying for grant funding to support your school’s safety ecosystem and on-campus security? We can help. Reserve your complimentary consultation with our team to explore options and discuss funding-relevant solutions through grants.