Part 2: School Security Facilitates a Safer Learning Environment
Perth Amboy High School is a state-of-the-art educational facility located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. It has been built on a sprawling 11.63-acre tract of land along Convery Boulevard. The three-story structure occupies an impressive 576,000 square feet, making it one of the largest schools in the region.
The school’s design was carefully crafted to meet the needs of students and the larger community. Perth Amboy High School is not just a place of learning, but also a hub for community activities, with the performing arts center and gymnasium serving as popular venues for events. This requires security to be at the highest level. Professional Systems Engineering acted as prime professional for security for the site. Using a team of professionals and engineers for the design to implement strategies that the contractors and vendors would use to establish site security was central to the design build effort.
As a place of learning and growth, schools have a vital role to play in ensuring the safety and well-being of their students, staff, and visitors. This responsibility covers all aspects of school life, including regular classroom activities, after-school events, and extracurriculars. To achieve a truly safe and secure environment by implementing a multifaceted approach that encompasses both prevention and physical security measures.
Systems Use and Programmed Protection
The SDA created a document which establishes the minimum levels of security and the systems to be expected for the protection of students staff and visitors. Thousands of devices were required to be designed and monitored digitally including card access, intrusion detection, video cameras, emergency call systems, door monitoring switches, electronic locks, gate controls, security controls and emergency one button alarm system summoning law enforcement.
Overall, Perth Amboy High School is a landmark facility that represents a significant investment in the education of young people. Its comprehensive facilities and commitment to providing a safe and supportive environment make it an excellent choice for students seeking a top-quality education.
Comprehensive Security with Measured Approach
In recognition of the urgent challenges surrounding school security, schools of all sizes across the country are taking proactive steps to improve their safety measures. One key aspect of this effort is to redefine school safety to include a greater focus on security measures.
Ensuring school safety requires a comprehensive approach that takes a layered view of all safety aspects. There is no single solution that can guarantee school safety. Instead, it requires a combination of small and significant actions together to ensure the safety of everyone in the building.
Physical security measures involve leveraging technologies and solutions that help monitor and prevent unauthorized access to schools. These solutions can include a range of tools, such as surveillance cameras, environmental sensors, access control systems, and alarms. Physical security solutions play a vital role in ensuring school safety by alerting school officials to potential dangers such as physical violence, or unwanted guests. By providing a reliable shield against such threats, these solutions help guarantee the safety and security of every individual present on school grounds.
Three Elements of Design
A multi-layered security approach consists of three essential elements that must be implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner.
The first element is perimeter defense, which involves securing the outside of the school building with physical obstacles such as access controlled doors, barriers, and gates to prevent unauthorized access. Enhancing security measures with well-lit perimeter and surveillance cameras can effectively eliminate potential security gaps and ensure a safe and secure environment.
The second element is proactive monitoring, which involves using technology such as video surveillance and access control systems to detect and respond to potential threats before they become critical. By implementing these measures, schools can take a step towards creating a safe environment for students and staff alike. Security cameras should be placed in strategic locations both inside and outside the school building to monitor any suspicious activity. Access control systems should be implemented to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to the building. These systems can also be used to track who enters and exits the building, which can be helpful in case of an emergency.
One of the most critical areas of focus should be physical security, which includes securing access points such as doors and windows, properly monitored access control systems, and video surveillance. These are crucial components of an effective security infrastructure that can help identify and respond to potential threats. Technology can also play a vital role in enhancing security while reducing the impact on students and staff. Access control systems are an example of technology that can improve security while also improving the on-campus experience. These systems can provide secure and convenient access to authorized individuals while keeping unauthorized individuals out.
The third element is applying technologies, such as panic buttons and mass notification systems, that can also be implemented to quickly alert authorities in case of an emergency. In summary, implementing security measures such as a secured perimeter, limited access points, and surveillance monitoring inside and outside the school can significantly improve school safety.
A comprehensive approach that includes education and training programs, physical security measures, and technology can help create a safe environment for everyone in the school building.
PSE’s School Security Experience
Our company specializes in developing security master plans, conducting comprehensive security surveys, assessing risks and needs, evaluating security operations and procedures, designing and engineering security systems, and providing a full range of services for each system component. Our team is highly qualified and technically diverse, and we have earned a national reputation for providing advanced technologies while adhering to strict project cost and schedule requirements. We are committed to meeting the unique challenges of each sensitive project we undertake.
