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3 Ways To Improve School Security With Locks

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Are you concerned about security at your child's school? A lot of parents feel the same way you do. With all of the terrible things that have happened on public school campuses lately, it is a legitimate concern, and one that governments at all levels are trying to address. Most schools have at least one police officer on duty at all times now, and security protocols for who gets to come on campus have increased. This isn't always enough, though. It is important to the safety of the children who attend these schools and the teachers who work there that schools are secure during the learning day and after everyone has gone home. One of the best ways to improve school security is with locks from places like Suburban Lock. Here are three ways schools can use new lock technologies to keep everyone there as safe as possible at all times.

1. Self-Locking Doors

One measure some schools are adopting is the use of self-locking doors. These are doors that automatically lock from the outside when the teacher or a student closes them. Once the door is closed, no one can get into the classroom unless someone from the inside opens the door (which remains unlocked on that side) and lets them in.

The only ones who have the necessary keys (usually electronic IDs) to unlock a self-locking door from the outside are usually the principal, the maintenance supervisor, and the teacher who uses that classroom. With self-locking doors, anyone who wants to enter a classroom or other school room, such as an office, must identify themselves first.

Even children who leave the classroom to go to the bathroom must knock and be let back inside when they return to the room. This type of lock really reduces the risk of someone undesirable gaining entrance to any room in a school.

2. Entry Buzer Locks

Other schools are experimenting with entry buzzer locks. Schools that use this type of lock usually have an electronic system that automatically shuts and locks all of the doors in the school as soon as the bell rings to start the school day. After this, anyone who wants to gain entry to school grounds (including students who arrive late) must approach the main entrance to the school and press a buzzer.

The buzzer is connected to an intercom that goes to the office. There is also usually a security camera pointed at the person doing the buzzing, so office personnel can identify them. This camera often also feeds to the school resource officer's desk.

Once the person has been identified and approved for entry, the office staff can buzz them in. If it is a student, the office can alert the teacher in their classroom that they are coming, and they can be buzzed into the class in a similar manner to how they gained entry to the school.

3. Electronic Locks

While they are not in large usage in schools yet, many schools can benefit from the use of electronic locks. According to The Construction Specifier, these are locks that operate without keys, usually with access cards. Schools usually elect to give only principals, maintenance personnel, and teachers authorization to use the access cards.

The beauty of the electronic lock is that only those who are pre-authorized to use them can get past them. They are very hard to break. Also, when teachers or other personnel leave and new ones are hired, it is simple to delete the access of the people who left and upload access for the new people who need to use the locks.

Electronic logs can also be kept of who used access cards each day, and when they used them. These locks can be installed on every door in a school by a local locksmith for far less than a government contractor (which saves school districts money).

Conclusion

You may bring your child to school one day to find all kinds of new locks on the doors. These will be technologically advanced locks, and they will be there for your child's safety. In fact, if your child's school has not increased its security measures, you should ask your local school district to do something about it. Government money is being spent on upgrading security at schools. Don't let your child's school get left behind in this most important safety area.


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