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  • A Proactive Approach to Safety in the Classroom

    Teacher teaching biology to kids

    It’s time for another school year and, just like every year, safety is the number one priority of schools across the country. Superintendents and principals are constantly searching for an extra layer of security and safety within the classroom. From preventing tripping to possibly preventing a tragedy—we’re here to help with a list of classroom safety tips. But before we jump in, let’s just be clear. If you’re an educator, you probably have more procedures and checklists than you know what to do with. Evacuation plans, deep-cleaning supplies, and safety guidelines . . . we get it—and know that you’ve reminded of the basics since college. Instead, let’s focus on real, tangible ways to boost your classroom security for the coming year.

    Positioning

    — Try and create a “hallway” from the entry into the room with a small bookcase or cabinet. In the event violence in the school, it’s best to have an obstacle that an intruder would have to work around to enter the room.

    — Arrange your desk as far from the door as possible to be able to advise student in the event of an intruder. Students are counting on you should an incident occur.

    — Preplan a barricade that can be slid into position. Furniture, filing cabinets, and bookshelves can all be positioned near the door for quick barricading.

    — Know the layout of your school/campus—including classroom numbers, hallways/wing names, and any nicknames used to refer to places on and around school grounds.

    Locks

    — If you’re working in the classroom or your office before or after school, lock your door. Also, while this is contingent on your school’s policies, but consider keeping your classroom door locked at all times—especially when students are inside. While it can be a nuisance and possibly a distraction to have people knocking and waiting to be let in—it could buy you precious time and increase the chances of survival if an intruder was trying to gain entry.

    — Carefully inspect your door. Does the door open in or out? What type of handle does it have? Is it solid or hollow? The Schlage CO-220 Emergency Classroom Lockdown System is an affordable security solution for the classroom that allows teachers to immediately lockdown the classroom by pushing a button on a remote fob from anywhere in the classroom. (Teachers typically hang the fob around their neck.)

    Have a Plan

    — While schools are equipped with disaster and emergency response plans—many teachers don’t take the time to fully familiarize themselves each year beyond what they teach their students. The truth is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Take a stand to really work through potential disaster scenarios with administration and colleagues. Widespread conversations on school safety have resulted in numerous “best practices” that many districts employ today.

    — Make sure you have emergency contacts clearly labeled in your phone. It’s best to label them as “ICE

    Schlage CO-220 Emergency Classroom Lockdown Lock