Page 19 - AASBO Summer 2018.indd

SPRING CONFERENCE WRAP-UP

BY DON HARRIS
Upgraded Visitor Management

Systems a Must for School Security

Brian Kohl

With school security concerns on high alert, technology now thorough is your protection, and you are able to handle a number
provides instant background checks of visitors and tracks their of situations that might arise surrounding a given policy.”
movement throughout the campus a er they are cleared and Products are the tools to reinforce your policy. For example,
admitted. visitor management involves access control. “You need
In a breakout session at AASBO’s Spring Conference, the vital technology – we’re all empowered with technology,” Kohl said.
issue of visitor management was discussed by Brian Kohl, Director “But products are not the solution. People are keys to successful
of Sales for Neopost’s Western Region. He focused on the security school safety.”
crisis a ecting schools. Issues o en involve the custody of children He emphasized that people must be educated, on board and fully
when the parents are divorced and students are taken from their supportive of your policy, your process and your product selection,
school. “ e responsibility o en falls on people who don’t have a lot which requires regular drills and education to reinforce the policy.
of expertise in that – the people up front,” Kohl said. “But resources “People are the most important component of your school safety
are available.” success, and are o en the most overlooked,” Kohl said. “Typically
He mentioned automating the front desk. “ ey need to track people with safety responsibilities have a lot of other responsibilities
visitors coming and going, keep out the bad guys or bad women, as well.”
Kohl referred to the visitor management zone, which is the
issue credentials for visitors, and deal with custody management – physical location in your building where your visitor management
who’s here to visit the child.” Kohl said.
Smart nancing for public education the students and sta , Kohl said. “ is involves a continuous generation of visitor management products are designed to be at
School leaders are constantly improving the safety net around system has the most impact. He explained that the current
evaluation and research into safety and security measures to ensure one location in the building for visitor sign-in and sign-out, are
their visitor management system is both e cient and secure, with limited to the front o ce or lobby area, and tell you who is in your
Stifel is proud to o er Arizona school districts comprehensive the safety of the student coming rst,” he said. “Adding strong safety building only a er the visitor signs in at the front o ce.
measures – such as sex o ender background checks, a custody
In the future, security systems will use GPS and Smartphone
management system and a ‘Red Flag’ list – enhance security and technology to monitor the perimeter of the school. “It will alert
investment banking and nance consulting services. support the school’s initiatives. e old visitor log-in system is no you to threats before they walk in your door,” Kohl said. “You will
know who is in your zone and receive information ahead of their
longer appropriate.”
Controlling access to a school building is the No. 1 safety and arrival – you’ll know where they are at all times.”
security measure in place today, and ties into each school’s visitor New features include driver’s license scanning, instant
Bob Casillas Grant Hamill Michael LaVallee management policy. “If you don’t have a visitor management policy background checks, alerts sent to relevant personnel as needed,

Managing Director Managing Director Managing Director today, you should have one,” Kohl recommended, adding that there and integration to student information systems, with self service
are products that support, automate and strengthen safety and or sta operated options, Kohl said. A noti cation would be sent to
security initiatives for schools. the person being visited, and a photograph of the visitor would be
e four “Ps” of a visitor management system, which complement on the badge they receive. Speci c badges for volunteers, vendors,
Bryan Lundberg Mark Reader Randie Stein a school’s safety initiatives, are: policy, process, product and people. and substitute teachers would eliminate bottlenecks.
Managing Director Managing Director Director Policy is the foundation of school security. “Policy is the high- Currently a visitor management system will scan the barcode on
level set of rules that outline your objectives,” Kohl said. “Everyone a plastic driver’s license to extract key information used for database
must follow it, but the question is, how thorough and advanced are and list searches, including sex o ender and red ag lists. “ is
Erika Coombs Sandra Day those policies?” technology is encrypted and non-transferrable, greatly reducing the
Process requires well-planned responses to scenarios. Visitors use of a counterfeit license,” Kohl said. “ e next wave of visitor
Director Vice President may be instructed to sign in at the front o ce, use the intercom management system products will leverage digital technology to

for entrance to the school, produce a photo ID, and wear a visitor identify visitors faster and with much greater accuracy. As the next
badge while on campus. Furthermore, if a visitor is seen without a generation of products becomes available, visitor management
East Camelback Road, Suite   badge they will be escorted to the front o ce immediately. could move almost entirely to the Smartphone.
With process, the devil is in the details to support your policy,
Phoenix, Arizona ­ €‚ according to Kohl: “ e more complete your process, the more CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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