School Security

It seems that every day there’s a new story about a security lapse, emergency lock-down, or violent act taking place at a school somewhere in the United States. Today it’s simply inexcusable not to have adequate security measures in place—regardless of how safe you think your community may be. In School Security, author Paul Timm, a nationally acclaimed school security expert, explains how to make your institution a safer place to learn with easy-to-follow steps.

Throughout the book, Timm emphasizes a proactive rather than reactive approach to school security. Readers are introduced to basic loss prevention and safety concepts, including how to communicate safety information to students and staff, how to raise security awareness, and how to prepare for emergencies. The book discusses how to positively influence student behavior, lead staff training programs, and write sound security policies. An entire chapter is dedicated to describing what school security resources are available for follow-up reading and further training. School Security isn’t just a book for security professionals: it helps people without formal security training—namely, educators and school administrators—effectively address school risk.

• Serves as a comprehensive guide for building an effective security program at little or no cost.
• Covers fundamental crime prevention concepts, making it suitable for both school security professionals and educators with no formal security training.
• Addresses the risks commonly facing school administrators today, from access control to social media.
• Takes a holistic approach to school security rather than focusing on a particular threat or event.

Security professionals and consultants; school administrators and staff at public or private K-12 schools, universities, or day care centers; and anyone who has responsibility for policy implementation or protective services in the school setting.

• About the Author
• Acknowledgments
• 1. What Is School Security?
  • Introduction – Security Is Not CSI
  • Security Is Loss Prevention
  • Today’s Student
  • Today’s Security Program
  • Security’s Impact on School Culture
  • Stakeholder Responses to “What Is School Security?”
  • Conclusion
• 2. How Safe Is Your School?
  • Introduction: How May I Help You?
  • Loss Prevention: Proactive Security
  • Making Security a Priority
  • A Collaborative Approach
  • A Comprehensive Approach
  • Financial Considerations
  • Keys to School Security
  • Practices with Security Consequences
  • State Requirements
  • Conclusion
• 3. Developing a Plan
  • Introduction
  • Documenting Practices
• 4. Securing Your Environment
  • Introduction: Coming Full Circle
  • Selecting Products, Systems, and Measures
  • Communications
  • Access Control
  • Key Concept–Testing Physical Security Devices
  • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
  • Conclusion
• 5. Influencing Behavior
  • Introduction
  • Defining Bullying
  • The Bystander
  • Bullycide
  • Addressing the Bullying Problem
  • Bullying Prevention Programming
  • What is Cyberbullying?
  • Sexting
  • Dating Violence, Stalking and Sexual Assault
  • Conclusion
• 6. Preparing Your People
  • Introduction
  • Staff Surveys
  • Student Problem Indicators
  • Visitor Management
  • Security Awareness
  • In-Service Training and Annual Presentations
  • Personal Crime Prevention
  • Personal Safety
  • Online Training
  • Motivation
  • Documentation
  • Security Systems
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Substitutes and Part-Time Staff
  • Security Personnel
  • Conclusion
• 7. Managing Emergencies
  • Introduction
  • Preparing to Get Started
  • Plan Content
  • Plan Training and Preparedness
  • The Evolution of Active Shooter Procedures
  • Conclusion
• 8. Tackling Social Media Risks
  • Social Media Introduction
  • Addressing Social Media Risks
  • Law Enforcement and Social Networking
  • Web Filters
  • Conclusion
• 9. School Security Resources and Conclusion
  • Introduction
  • Chapter Summary
  • Book Conclusion
• Index