30 Oct Does The Newly Come COVID Induced Stress of The 2020 School Year Call for More Security?
Schools are finally starting to go back to in-person classes, while, of course, following COVID safety guidelines. This return to school has been extremely stressful for many students. There are new rules to learn and the specter of the virus is in the background constantly. The school environment has become a very tense scene. Many students have not been in a school environment for six months or more of lockdown. Their anxiety levels are at an all-time high. Teachers have similar levels of anxiety about COVID and the risk of getting sick despite the precautions that are being taken. With all this added stress and anxiety comes a higher risk of violence as students get used to the new rules of being in school again. Should schools be putting more time and money into their security budget to ensure that their students and faculty are safe in this highly stressed environment? If so, what would be the best way to target this investment? Traditionally, schools have focused on metal-detectors and access control, but is this the best way to keep everyone safe? When a violent incident occurs in the school, the best way to handle it is to have an officer arrive at the scene. The fastest way to communicate with officers is through the two-way radios that they carry. The WAVE Plus system transmits a detailed call for help over these radios as soon as a button is pressed. The ability to call for help quickly may help to calm down some of the anxiety felt by everyone in school and reduce the risk of violence.