School safety and security concerns remain high for students, teachers and parents, says Ken Cook, Director of National School Safety and Advocacy at Allegion.
A 2023 Gallup Poll found that 38% of parents of K-12 students fear for their child’s physical safety at school.
These numbers peak in correlation with school shootings, the highest being 55% directly after the Columbine High School tragedy.
One in seven parents also reported their child expressed fear for their safety at school.
While these numbers can be distressing, school shootings are anything but common and should not be the only concern for parents, students and school staff.
When panic is created around such tragic events, schools may take measures that are rushed and potentially unsafe.
Administrators should also consider weather-related emergencies, fires, bomb threats, bullying, vandalism and other possible non-fatal incidents when choosing and assessing their school’s safety components and procedures.
The ultimate goal is safety for every student and staff member, in every situation, every day.
One approach for school safety can be as simple as a locked door.
Security experts and the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) agree that classroom doors should be closed and locked whenever students are in the classroom.
A school lockdown during an active shooter incident at Rancho Tehama School helped save the lives of every student and staff member.
Doors locked from the inside should allow free egress in emergencies and must be accessible in alignment with national accessibility standards.
The traditional classroom function lock was designed in a way that only allows the door to be locked and unlocked from the outside with a key and had no locking function on the inside handle.
The lock may be placed in “passage mode,” which allows it to remain unlocked on the outside.
In the event of a lockdown, a keyholder would need to open the door to lock it, potentially exposing the classroom to danger.
Another common approach to classroom security is the storeroom function lock.
This lock, unlike the traditional classroom lock function, was designed to always be locked, where a keyholder must be present to allow passage through the door.
This type of function leaves no room for error in a lockdown but can create disruptions to the school day, when frequent egress is needed and the lock can’t function without a keyholder present.
In this article, we’ll explore improved alternatives aiming to balance security and convenience for students and staff, from daily security concerns to emergency lockdown situations.
While traditional classroom function and storeroom function locks were once the recommended standard for classroom security (as they limit locking and unlocking control to staff), these lock types no longer meet all current best practice guidelines for school security.
Best practices to securing classrooms have been developed based on reports from the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Safety Commission, Robb Elementary Critical Incident Review, Federal Commission report and PASS guidelines.
These include:
Unlike the traditional classroom lock, the classroom security function is locked from the inside of the classroom with a key.
Teachers do not have to exit the classroom to lock the outside lever; the locking function can be accessed from both sides. The inside lever always remains unlocked to allow free egress as required by code.
Since the door doesn’t have to be opened to access the locking function, this style of lock allows for a safer method to lock than the traditional classroom lock.
Since the locking function is controlled only by a key, there is less risk of unauthorized people locking the door.
This can help deter bullying, vandalism or other behavior that may occur when a student is able to lock the door.
However, this function isn’t without its drawbacks.
Since a metal key must be used to lock the door, a keyholder must always be present and able to access the key and lock in time.
It can be difficult to secure the classroom in the event of an emergency, especially if students are alone in the classroom for any reason and do not have access to a key.
Some jurisdictions may not allow this door function.
When weighing your choices, consult your local codes.
The entrance/office function lock is versatile and important for emergency lockdowns.
It can be used on several different types of interior doors, but in a classroom setting it can make a huge difference in emergencies.
In addition to a keyed outside lever, a thumb turn or push button on the inside can lock or unlock the outside lever.
This means the door can be easily locked by anyone close to the door; the keyholder doesn’t have to be present.
The inside lever is unlocked and allows free egress regardless of the locked status.
As the door is freely locked from the inside by anyone, not just the keyholder, quicker actions can be taken in lockdown emergencies, if someone can access the door to press the lock button or turn the thumb turn.
Keys for substitute teachers don’t necessarily need to be provided, so long as a staff member is able to initially let the substitute in the classroom.
Since anyone inside of the room can easily lock the door, it’s important to consider the associated drawbacks. Students may take advantage of this feature, creating the opportunity for student-led violence, vandalism and other mischief provided they can lock themselves in the room – and the teacher or staff member may not have access to the key.
However, it’s important to note that with the right training, according to the Safe and Sound Schools safety toolkit, students as young as 4th grade are empowered to act during emergencies.
As stated by the PASS guidelines and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Safety Commission report, electronic access control provides the highest level of security in schools.
For classrooms specifically, electronics provide quick lockdown and more control over the opening.
When used on classroom doors and tied into a centralized access control system, electronic locks provide a streamlined lockdown procedure within seconds.
Classroom occupants do not need a key or even need to be near the door for it to lock.
Instead, the lock is controlled remotely – all connected doors can lock in seconds with a central command and notifications alerting a lockdown can be issued to staff.
These locks are also useful in areas that can benefit from being on a schedule, like a locker room.
Of course, the inside lever remains unlocked, allowing free egress.
Additionally, electronic locks provide greater monitoring ability, leaving less room for error.
Real-time monitoring can confirm whether each door is closed, latched and locked.
Any door connected to an electronic lock will be visible in a centralized system and help to control unauthorized access.
Finally, staff no longer need to worry about issuing or keeping track of keys to their classrooms. Instead, credential technology allows instant management of who may access each door and when.
Cards, fobs and pin access can all be used with electronic locks.
Substitutes can be issued a temporary card or other credential for the necessary timeframe.
If a physical credential is lost, it can be instantly shut off in case it falls into the wrong hands.
Access history may also be helpful in knowing exactly who accessed a certain room and when, possibly preventing vandalism or other unauthorized activities.
Although balancing funding for a variety of educational needs can be a challenge when choosing security products, it is important to weigh the added benefits of increased safety and control when choosing the best solution for classroom doors.
Visual indication is an important detail in classroom security when every second counts and is recommended in the PASS guidelines.
Visual indicators show whether a door is locked or unlocked in real-time.
This may be in the form of symbols or messages stating “locked” or “unlocked” on mechanical locks or LED lights on electronic locks.
Indicators can help avoid confusion during panic in emergency situations and depending on the type of indicator, provide information on the lock status without approaching the door.
If budget is tight, indicators may be an initial way to begin upgrading security.
Depending on the manufacturer, indication may be able to be added to current locksets using a conversion kit.
This provides a low-cost option for added classroom security.
Traditional classroom and storeroom locks are no longer being viewed as the recommended solution for classroom security because they do not meet best practices for school security or student safety.
Instead, consider alternative and improved options – classroom security locks, entrance/office function locks and electronic locks, as well as visual indicators.
While each type comes with its advantages and potential drawbacks, it’s important to consider individual needs.
Be sure to consult local codes and jurisdictions.
Don’t rush to increase security and, in turn, make decisions that could have unintended consequences.
Take time to balance convenience with the ultimate goal of safety for every student and staff member, in every situation, every day.
Ken Cook, BSME, MBA, CPD, CEF, is the Director of National School Safety and Advocacy at Allegion.
Ken has 37 years of management and leadership positions across manufacturing, product development, marketing, sales and school safety and advocacy.
He is a recognized expert in physical school safety space, working closely with the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Department of Homeland Security and AIA Indiana.
In addition to leading Allegion’s efforts in assisting school districts, Ken serves on the Advisory Council for the Partner for Safer Schools Alliance (PASS) and chairs the Outreach Committee.
He also serves on the Security Industry Association (SIA) school safety workgroup.
This article was originally published in the April edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.