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2021

How Camera Systems Can Improve School Safety

How safe is my child’s school?

This is an unsettling question that many parents have found themselves asking more frequently over the last twenty years. It’s not a comfortable topic, but after the shootings at Columbine High School in 1999, school safety was thrust into the spotlight. Today, gun violence, bullying, and other related issues are paramount in the public school sector, and can leave parents and educators wondering how school safety can be improved or enhanced. It’s one of the things that we here at nSide have set out to do: build confidence in the school systems, so they are well-equipped to handle anything that comes their way. 

Are schools truly unsafe?

There are many issues facing school administrations today. Depending on the region in which a K-12 school is located, some of these include: 

  • Bullying and Cyberbullying
  • Gun violence
  • Student and Teacher Mental Health
  • Natural Disasters (such as hurricanes or tornadoes)
  • Threat Assessment and School Climate (the emotional environment of a school)
  • Recovery from a disaster or crisis (dealing with the aftermath

Each year, there are multiple resources and studies done to assess the safety of elementary and upper level schools, including the School Survey on Crime and Safety. This comprehensive study is comprised of 4,800 randomly selected schools, and provides estimates of school crime, incidents, disciplinary issues, and covers crime prevention and school security as topics. The very latest version, which occurred in 2019, showed some of the following data (Source: SSOCS)

  • From the period of July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017, there were 42 fatalities that were school-related. These include students, staff and school personnel. 
  • In 2018, there were 836,100 violent victimization crimes (theft and non fatal violence) that occurred among students who are 12-18 years old. 
  • From 2018-2019, there were 66 reported school shootings. These include 29 shootings that had casualties, and 27 that had injuries reported. 
  • In 2016, twenty five percent of the reporting fifth graders were at schools where physical conflicts were occurring between classmates at a minimum of once per month. These same fifth graders had lower reading, science, and math scores than the percentage who did not have physical conflict at their school. 

Although these are certainly alarming trends, national data concludes that between 1992 and 2017, crime and violence are actually on a downward trend. This can be confusing, because the amount of school shootings is disproportionately higher, and can feel emotionally difficult for parents and educators. Of course, no level of violence in the school environment would be considered appropriate, but there are many factors which have led to a reduction in non-violent and violent crimes alike, and one of these is the addition of security personnel and cameras (Source). 

How Cameras Can Keep Schools Safer

 After 1999 (which was the year when the Columbine shooting occurred), the number of schools that reported using some type of security camera increased, rising from just 19% to 83% in 2018.  In August 2020, a joint effort from the Department of Justice and the Office of Community Oriented Policing suggested ten things that schools can do to improve their safety, and they listed campus and classroom security as third highest priority. The highest priority item was comprehensive school safety assessments, which we will discuss later. 

  1. Video camera monitoring can minimize students using or selling drugs on campus, and can deter theft. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (Source) suggests that installing cameras in locations such as parking lots can capture student interactions, or mitigate drug-related behaviors from high-risk students. As far as thefts, cameras have been shown to deter would-be burglars from things like locker thefts or parking lot thefts (student or staff vehicles). This applies to cameras that are installed with accompanying signs announcing their presence. 
  2. Video cameras in schools have also been shown to reduce bullying, which is a high concern for many parents and educators, and can lend itself to a feeling of instability for students. In some cases, installed cameras on school campuses reduced recorded instances of bullying up to 70%. The National Center for Education Statistics found that students were fearful of certain places on their campuses which did NOT have cameras or adequate camera surveillance, such as outside on school grounds. They also found that students avoided these areas out of fear of being targeted. 
  3. Video cameras can monitor and help identify shooters on a school campus. Surveillance cameras can be very useful to law enforcement when there are intruders or shooters, and capture vandalism and other non-violent offenses. It can also lower the liability for educators and schools, as their positive actions during a crisis are viewable.  

Why Schools May be Reluctant to Install Cameras

With any new advance in technology, there can be hindrances of many types, but the top three reasons that schools may be hesitant would be: concerns about student and teacher privacy, the cost of such a service, and making students or teachers feel suspicious about one another. We understand these are genuine concerns, and specifically want to address the issue of privacy. Our unique systems are made up of live monitoring systems that are only accessible to those who need to view it, such as law enforcement or other safety personnel. And in regards to cost, our technology  can use your existing cameras (if you have them) and integrates them into our system. If you do need new cameras, we can help guide you to the solution that suits your budget and needs. Lastly, the trust of students and staff has been shown to be highest in schools where the “school climate” is one of safety and security. This works hand in hand with your security plan and installation, fostering an overall environment of trust. 

How nSide | Live Works

First, our qualified team will assess your current needs. This is relevant to the findings we mentioned above, which include making a comprehensive safety assessment and plan for your place of education. We will help you decide if you need new equipment, and make sure your current installations are working and in good order. Then, we will make sure your team is trained in using our systems, called nSide|Live. It’s live-time monitoring of your existing (or new, if you need them installed) cameras, and it can be viewed by high level administrators (school safety directors or principals with access) even from afar, and is safe and secure. You won’t need to worry about any unwanted visitors hacking into your secure systems and spying on teachers or students. 

In the event of an emergency, you will be able to grant access to first responders and emergency workers. This will get aid to your students, or help you intervene with an emergency situation, immediately. As an administration, you will be able to control who has access and when. Our system is different, because of the ability to grant and revoke access that is needed, based on the situation at hand. Many systems make it much more complicated, and leave their camera systems open to security gaps. No matter what your security camera needs are, we can assist you!

Safety Benefits Everyone

The findings from the most recent SSOCS report continued to affirm that the safer that students feel, the better they are able to focus and meet academic standards. Both students and the staff benefit from safety improvements such as installing cameras, and the long-term benefits of students who are successful in school stretch into the community. Without these safety standards implemented, students not only experience violence, they can also witness violence (which has lasting emotional and psychological effects). With a comprehensive safety plan, curating a secure and stable environment is possible and can help students and staff thrive in their roles. 

If your school is ready to take the next step, and assess the systems already in place, please let us know. We would love to sit down with you, address any security gaps, and help you move forward with a concrete plan to keep you, your students, and your staff members safer than ever. 

Sources: 

April 16, 2021
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Flu Prevention Educational Materials

Protecting yourself and others from respiratory illnesses like the flu starts with you. The following are educational materials such as factsheets, videos and trainings on nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) that you can print, watch, act on, and share with others.

Printable materials

Nonpharmaceutical Interventions and Community Interventions for Infection
Protect Your Children and Others from Flu Factsheet
Protect Your Students from Flu During the School Year
Protect Yourself from Flu at a Public Event
Do Your Part to Slow the Spread of Flu

Training

The NPI 101: An Introduction to Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Pandemic Influenza course is designed to assist state, tribal, local, and territorial public health professionals in preparing for and responding to pandemic flu in their communities through the use of NPIs. This interactive course educates learners on how to plan for the use of NPIs before, during, and after a flu pandemic to help slow the spread of flu

Register for “NPI 101”

SOURCE: “Educational Materials.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Aug. 2017, www.cdc.gov/nonpharmaceutical-interventions/tools-resources/educational-materials.html.

March 22, 2021
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Why Fleet Safety Matters

Why Fleet Safety Matters

If you’ve ever been in a hurry, you know this feeling: getting trapped behind a big, yellow school bus, making multiple stops and driving slowly. We have all been there, frustrated with the slow speed, but there’s a reason why those buses have to be so very careful: they’re filled with precious cargo. Parents and guardians across the country entrust their children each day to the school bus systems, drivers, and routes. Although strides have been taken to make the school vehicles as safe as possible, there are still several areas of concern when it comes to this aspect of the education system, including traffic accidents, other drivers on the road, and strangers having access to the passengers or routes as they make their stops. So what’s an educator to do? How do you protect these precious passengers, and give your school staff and families confidence that the buses are as safe as possible? In this blog, we will explore how nSide’s innovative fleet systems work, and how they give everyone involved an extra layer of communication.

Who rides the school bus?

If you’re wondering who these routes actually serve, you may be surprised at the sheer numbers of students who use school transportation. Recent statistics from School Transportation News indicate that in the 2018-2019 school year, there were 1,365 crashes that involved school buses. This accounts for only a small fraction of the number of minors who rode a school bus during the same timeframe, which the American School Bus Council estimates at approximately 26 million students. In 2016, the statistics showed that approximately 20 million children who were younger than 9th grade rode the bus, and that the bus riders typically live more than two miles away from the school they’re attending. In addition to providing transportation for any child who may need it, it’s important to note that the bus provides opportunity for those who wouldn’t have access to a private, working vehicle. The same research showed that 20% of the children riding the bus in 2016 were from homes who’s income level fell below the poverty line. Even when low-income families own a personal vehicle, it doesn’t mean it’s easily accessible; obstacles like the cost of gas, a parent available to drive it, and a car that is good condition all can hinder the ability to get a child to school without help. On average, a school bus travels 12,000 miles per year, and replaces the travel of approximately 36 regular vehicles.

What has been done so far about safety on school buses?

Thankfully, these school vehicles are one of the most regulated transportation methods. Since their inception in 1914, when they were a very unreliable and dangerous carriage that provided almost no protection to its riders, the recognizable school bus has come quite a long way. One of the first changes made to provide a higher level of safety was innovated by Frank Cyr in the early 30’s, who was himself an educator, and it was to make all school buses the same color. In 1974, school fleets had all adopted the vibrant yellow color throughout the country, which made them more visible during early mornings and early evenings, when they were most heavily used. Since the mid 60’s, the safety features of the standard school bus have been regulated by the federal government, in order to comply with newer technologies and standards. 

The design of the actual vehicle is part of what makes modern buses more safe than a  regular passenger car. A child is actually seventy times more likely to get in an accident while riding as a passenger, than to get in an accident on the way to school on a bus. They feature things like flashing red lights, plenty of mirrors, and sturdy construction to best protect the children inside. Although the larger ones do not have required seatbelts, this is because they are constructed using a system called compartmentalization. Compartmentalization makes seats that can absorb energy in a crash, and help protect the riders in the event of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also monitors the minimum safety standards for a school bus, ensuring that there is accountability for bus manufacturers.

School Bus Accidents and Incidents

No one likes to look back and see instances where accidents or mishaps occurred involving school buses, passengers, or drivers, but they can help shape the safety standards for the future. There are several instances in the last ten years, where children were involved in these types of situations. 

In 2013, a five year old boy was taken hostage during a crisis in Midland City, Alabama. The perpetrator, Jimmy Lee Dykes, managed to board a school bus, where he shot and killed the driver and took Ethan Gillman (age five) hostage. Another student who was present on the bus called 911 when Dykes boarded the vehicle, and first responders were able to apprehend Dykes later on. He had proceeded to leave the bus with the child, barricaded himself in a self-made bunker, and was shot by the authorities. The little boy was thankfully rescued and lived through the harrowing event. During such an instance as this, nSide’s technology would allow bus drivers to receive emergency help more rapidly, and enhance their communication abilities. When time is of the essence (such as in a kidnapping), the goals are to prevent unauthorized access to the children, AND get help to the bus in a hurry, and nSide helps schools do both. 

Let’s take a look at a few more instances when things relating specifically to riding the bus went horribly wrong:

  • August 2018: Terry Bryant, age 11, was struck by a car in Florida and killed. He was waiting for a break in traffic to walk up the street.
  • September 2018, Destiny Chambers, age 8, was struck and killed by a vehicle, who committed a hit-and-run. She was crossing the street towards the bus, which was stopped.
  • October 2018: Jasmine Villareal, age 12, died as a result of her school bus rolling into a ditch and catching fire. 
  • March 2019: Rhindi Isaacs, deceased as a result of her school bus being struck by an SUV and catching fire.

These are grievous and horrible accidents that primarily involved drivers who failed to stop at the stop sign or for the flashing lights. Each year, the National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey updates all the fatalities and accidents that occur during the entering and exiting at bus stops. Children who were under nine years of age account for the largest number of fatalities since the 70’s, and the current average shows that around 6 children die every year from bus-related accidents. Among the almost 1500 reported crashes researched by School Transportation News, approximately 16.5 percent were found to be the fault of the bus driver, school district, or private bus company. This is where many of the safety features of nSide’s amazing fleet communication system come into play.

How nSide’s Fleet System Works

We pride ourselves on combining the best of modern technology with accessibility for schools and their educators. One of our products is called nSide|Fleet, and it provides an extra layer of safety for school bus drivers, their passengers, and the staff that oversees them. As we mentioned above, with just over sixteen percent of accidents correlating to school or bus companies directly, it’s crucial that schools reduce their liability and make their modes of transportation as safe as possible. nSide|Fleet does just that; giving schools the ability to monitor their entire group of school buses in just a few clicks of a mouse. Not only can they access this digitally, it can be securely accessed no matter where you are. For administrators and principals, this means you can check in on any situation while on the go. Here are some of the benefits of the service:

  • View accurate reports on speeding vehicles, so you can monitor the safe driving habits of the drivers you hire.
  • Geofencing is a way to use location in tandem with information. With geofencing, you can view when a driver leaves a route, and determine a possible reason for doing so. Helps keep driver’s accountable to the routes they should be following. This feature also helps keep the routes running on time and on track, and sets up the ability to send notifications for when the bus enters a given area.
  • Maintenance Monitoring: View maintenance codes and fuel levels on all vehicles. This feature enhances safety by preventing problems before they occur (with fuel levels), and preventing problems with lack of vehicles or sudden shortages due to required maintenance.
  • View time logs: Perfect for transportation managers, viewing time logs helps you with staffing numbers and budgetary concerns by seeing which drivers are efficiently managing their routes.

How Bus Safety Benefits Everyone

Obviously, the primary beneficiaries of increased bus safety are the students who use it as a mode of transportation. But on top of this most important benefit, parents will benefit as well. They will have peace of mind knowing that the school has eyes on the buses it utilizes, and knows where their children are at all times going to and from the school. Lastly, one of the primary benefits of using such a system is that the school has backup: by using nSide, they have a system set in place that gives drivers accountability and confidence while they are on the road. With nSide, your school bus fleet will be safer on the road and off. This means that on the roads of your community and city, both pedestrians, students, and other drivers will benefit from the added monitoring. 

Are you ready to get started with a customized quote? We would love to help you get your bus fleet set up with these unique safety features, and help keep all of your students safe on that morning and afternoon commute.

Sources

Written by Grace Aspinwall | Silverbeet Creative Co.

March 22, 2021
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Preparedness is Key in Emergency Situations

Preparedness is Key in Emergency Situations

When it comes to an emergency situation, it’s often said that “preparedness is key”. When the emergency is a school shooting or a shooter on a campus, being prepared can be the difference between life and death for students, teachers, and staff members. The unthinkable nightmare of a gunman on campus is something no child or educator should have to consider, but that’s exactly what unfolded on November 14th, 2019 in Santa Clarita, California. A student at Saugus High School opened fire on his classmates, killing two, and then turning the gun on himself. Gracie Anne Muehlberger, age 15, and Dominic Blackwell, age 14, both lost their lives in this tragic event. 

On the day of the shooting, most teachers and students began their day just like any other, getting classrooms set up and arranged, and getting lessons underway. In an interview with CNN, teacher Kaitlin Holt explains how she was playing back a recent choir performance for her students so that they could analyze it. They had no idea that their day was about to be turned upside-down, as news of a shooter began to trickle into their classroom. Because they had not heard the gunshots ring out in their particular part of the building, they were unaware of the situation as it was happening. A young lady who had been shot came into the classroom, in shock, and not realizing she had two gunshot wounds. Kaitlin risked her own life to exit the classroom and find the supplies in a gunshot wound kit that would help her treat the wound. Her quick thinking about where the kit was located, and how to stop a bleed was incredibly important. “We had watched a tutorial on how to use that in one of our staff meetings and I did that the best I could,” she told CNN. 

Her students cooperated beautifully during such a stressful time, and Holt further explained that they had been through lockdown training at the school, to prepare for what they hoped to never experience. This training proved invaluable as the students knew to lock the doors, help create barricades, and to stay quiet and hidden. Holt ushered them into her office, which had locking doors, and worked to create an atmosphere of calm and confidence. Additionally, she shared with the news station that she felt the immense gravity of the situation, and didn’t feel that being a paramedic should be part of a teacher’s job, since there are such life and death consequences, adding, “That should not be part of the teacher’s job”.

How does nSide help?

Kaitlin Holt, the choir-teacher-turned-paramedic, repeatedly emphasized that she barely had time to think through her options in a situation that she had never anticipated before, but it draws attention to her excellent training. She knew what to do, where to go, and how to best assist her students, even without all of the information or the location of the shooter. She knew where medical supplies were located and how to use it, and where the safest location was. She also knew how to close off exits in the room, and where each one was. Training like this is crucial when it comes to protecting students, and it’s one of the reasons that nSide exists. Although our hope is that no teacher or staff member would ever have to use their emergency training, we desire to equip faculty members with confidence and training that will kick in, no matter the adrenaline, shock, or unknowns that are occurring around them. It’s easy to think through these things before they happen, but when they ARE happening, have you practiced enough for it to be second nature? Have you put enough precautions in place before the emergency? We want every student, teacher, or staff member to be able to answer this with a resounding YES. 

Since 2015, we have been thinking through what it means to truly feel secure in the walls of a school. Unfortunately, there are many things in our modern times that pose threats to staff and students in the academic setting. History has shown that emergencies can happen at any time, in many forms. Although this is sobering, there are things that can be done before the emergency that will set educators up for success, instead of chaos. Here at nSide, we are broaching the topic of school safety head-on. After all, when it comes to our children, straightforward answers and education are powerful tools, and school safety should never be passive.

Preparation can save lives

In the instance of this brave, amazing teacher, we saw how her preparedness and training worked together to allow her to make split-second decisions in a horrible situation. The things that were done ahead of time truly mattered. Saugus had practiced lockdowns with their students, so the students knew that panic and noise would increase their level of danger, and they cooperated to assist their teacher. Their bravery was based out of one of our key concepts: training works. Here are some of the ways that nSide can give schools peace of mind by equipping them with the training they need and want: 

  • Emergency Operation Plans: These plans are built on a cloud system, and allow accessibility school-wide, in the event of an emergency. Rather than being caught off-guard, teachers like Kaitlin Holt would know immediately if there was a threat to their classroom, and would have time to assess the situation. While Miss Holt had access to some of these types of features, such as location of exits, and locations of medical items, having an earlier notification would have given her additional breadth. Our systems use a combination of surveillance, communication, and controlled access so that those who need to know, do. No parent loves the idea of strangers having access to viewing the school, so the access is private and controlled, enabling parents, staff, and educators to be in rapid communication with each other when necessary. 
  • Training Sessions: Our training modules are research based and include subjects such as “Active Shooter Training”. We work with other organizations and partners to provide the most up-to-date and current training. We also work off the WICC Model of training, which stands for “Warn, Information, Choices, Communication”. It focuses on how to warn the school of an incident or impending situation, notifying and providing crucial information to those who need to know (public, media, parents, staff), equipping everyone to make appropriate choices, and communicating effectively. In her CNN interview, that brave choir teacher noted that her students had done lockdown drills before, and that’s why they knew precisely how to behave. These drills, when done appropriately, can decrease chaos and fear in the moment. 
  •  Mapping and Location: One of the biggest and most crucial moments in the Saugus High School shooting was when Miss Holt made the decision to secure her students and exit the classroom to find the gunshot wound kit for her student. She knew very quickly where it was, and how to find it. This was lifesaving for the student who had two gunshot wounds, and saved valuable time while things were still very unknown. Our mapping and location plans give staff the ability to troubleshoot on the fly by knowing where exits are, where the access points are, where medical items (such as AED machines or gunshot wound kits) are located. This step can give back the gift of time to those who are protecting children on campus. That time can mean the difference between life and death for people with deadly wounds, so why not buy back every precious moment by fully mapping your locations?

Why this matters

Although we have talked about preparing our educators and students, we sincerely believe that just as a choir teacher shouldn’t be asked to be a first responder, a school shouldn’t have to do these safety measures alone. With the rise of mental health crisis’ and school emergencies, teachers and staff have many critical items already on their very-full plates. So, that preparation should be taken care of, long before the school day begins. That’s why nSide can do the planning and preparing for you, with our comprehensive safety plans and evaluations. Our experienced and trained team can discuss the best routes of action for your facility, based on the size of the school, the ages of the students, and the location. We can give your teachers back their peace of mind by making their response second-nature, and removing doubts from their actions. Not only will our secure, inclusive plans set your school apart when it comes to safety, it will also speak volumes to concerned parents, who entrust their children to your school each and every day. Teachers are not first responders. It’s not in the job description. Let your teachers be teachers, and let us tackle the issue of school emergencies. 

If you’re interested in learning more about our series of products and services, please reach out to us at help@nside.io. We would love to share more about how we can help shape a culture of safety at your organization.

Written by Grace Aspinwall | Silverbeet Creative Co.

February 25, 2021
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