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Posted by Grace Watkins

Blog Banner A Disjointed Approach to School Safety
April 19, 2023

A Disjointed Approach to School Safety

It is necessary that schools take a comprehensive and cohesive approach to ensuring the safety of their students and staff. If school safety procedures and protocols are inconsistent or unclear, it can lead to uncertainty and insecurity, negatively impacting the learning environment. A disjointed approach can undermine the trust and confidence that students, faculty,  staff, and parents have in a school’s ability to keep them safe. 

It is easy to see how confusion can ensue when the elements of school safety planning are all housed in different apps, software, or physical locations. For example, elements of school safety planning and where they are often housed can look like this:

In addition to the locations of these elements, it is important to consider how easily accessible these elements are for all relevant personnel. An integrated school safety management system that combines all the elements of school safety, such as emergency response plans, threat assessments, and incident reporting, into a single, ready-to-use platform can reduce fragmentation and increase access to information for those who need it. Utilizing such systems makes it easier to reduce confusion and increase the effectiveness of such measures. 

Additionally, schools should prioritize communication and collaboration among all members involved in school safety. This includes regular training sessions, drills, and meetings with local emergency response agencies to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working together to keep the school and community safe. Here are 5 steps that schools can take to address the issue:

  1. Conduct a thorough assessment of the current safety measures: Schools should evaluate their existing safety procedures and identify any gaps or inconsistencies that need to be addressed. This assessment should involve input from all stakeholders to ensure that a variety of perspectives are being taken into account. 
  2. Develop a comprehensive safety plan: Based on the assessment, schools should develop a comprehensive safety plan that outlines specific steps to address any gaps or weaknesses in their current approach. The plan should include clear protocols for responding to emergencies, as well as strategies for preventing incidents from occurring in the first place. 
  3. Provide training and education: Schools should provide training and education to all staff and students to ensure they understand the safety protocols and know how to respond in an emergency. This training should be ongoing and regularly updated to ensure everyone is prepared. nSide Training focuses on using the nSide Platform, as well as school safety best practices such as drills, tabletop exercises, threat assessments, and assemblies. 
  4. Utilize technology: Technology can be a valuable tool in enhancing school safety. Schools can use security cameras, 360-mapping, fleet tracking, access management, and more to monitor the school environment and identify potential threats. Integrating the nSide Suite of Products into your existing emergency management systems can help put you on the right path toward keeping your schools safe. 
  5. Foster a culture of safety: Districts should work to foster a culture of safety that encourages all members of the community to be vigilant and proactive when it comes to safeguarding our schools. This can be achieved through regular communication and outreach to students, staff, and parents, as well as through the establishment of relationships with local first responders and emergency management organizations.

It is essential that schools take a holistic approach to school safety, bringing together all the necessary elements in a coordinated and accessible manner. By conducting a thorough assessment, developing a comprehensive safety plan, providing training and education, utilizing technology, and fostering a culture of safety, schools can create a safer and more secure environment for their students, staff, and community. 

nSide, Inc.™ is proud to offer a platform to house your school’s safety plans. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with all we have to offer to help keep schools safe.

Email us at help@nside.io so that we can help you build the best safety plan for your school!

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April 19, 2023
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Blog Banner FAQ
March 9, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions – Part 1

Here at nSide, we aim to ensure that school administrators and safety professionals can easily manage the various elements required to keep their schools safe. We also understand that things can be confusing and unclear sometimes. This is why we have created a Frequently Asked Questions list to hopefully answer any questions you may have about using the nSide platform!

How do I add a new user?

To add a new user, there are a few steps you must take:

  • Log in to your nSide account
  • Locate the Organization Manager on the right-hand side of your screen
  • Once you have opened the Organization Manager, click the “Manage Invitations” tab
  • Invite user(s) to register
  • Enter one or more email addresses and click the “Invite User(s)” button below to send

Alternatively, a user may request an account. The SPOC will then have to once again enter the “Manage Invitations” tab and either accept or reject the request. For more details on this process, read our article about the Organization Manager.

Why won’t my EOP turn green?

In the nSide Platform, the individual sections of your Emergency Operations Plan have three color distinctions depending on their level of completion:

If your EOP indicator doesn’t turn green, it means that there is something incomplete in the EOP.

How do I add a drill/training report?

Once you have logged in to the nSide Platform, locate and open the Plans tab at the top of your screen. Within your EOP, you will see a section titled “Drill and Training Reports.” To add a report, simply choose “Add a Drill Report,” “Add a Training Report,” or “Add a Crisis Report.” Additionally, you have the option to view any reports or mandatory training resources. 

If you are in Alabama, this article may be helpful.

Why is the drill/training that I conducted not a choice in the dropdown menu?

If you are unable to find the specific drill/training that you conducted, it most likely means that it is not required for your state.

Why won’t my Skills-Survey submissions populate?

To review your Skills Survey, you must first locate the Assess tab at the top of your screen within the nSide Platform. Once you have opened Assess, you will find a tab at the top of your screen labeled “Skills Survey Management.” Any Skills Survey submissions that you have made will be located here. If you have a submission missing, make sure that you have fully completed the form and correctly submitted it. It is also possible that it could have been placed in the wrong school. In addition to the Skills Survey Management, you must also fill out the Staff Skills Survey and Inventory within your Emergency Operations Plan. For additional instructions, check out our Member Profile article!

How do I submit a bug?

If you notice a bug within the nSide Platform, let us know! On the landing page of your nSide profile, you can find a button on the lower right-hand side of the screen labeled “Report a Bug.” Simply provide your email address and a brief explanation of what you are experiencing. Once you have submitted it, our team will work as quickly as possible to resolve the issue.

You can also click on the exclamation point icon in other parts of the platform to report a bug. For more information, read our article Reporting a Bug.

Why are my maps incorrect?

Incorrect maps may mean that a user error has occurred or that there is a lack of information regarding mapping/floor plans. Have there been any changes on campus? Have you sent us updated floor plans recently? Whatever the case, reach out to us so that we can figure out how to get your maps up-to-date!

It may also be something you can easily correct! If there have been changes on campus, read our recent use case on Building Changes. If there are points or features that need to be edited or added, check out Editing Features.

For any additional questions or support, contact us at help@nside.io, 1.800.604.1822, or LiveChat on our website!

For any additional information or instructions, visit our nSide|Community!

March 9, 2023
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Blog Banner School Bus Safety
February 22, 2023

Taking Bus Safety to the Next Level

In the event of an emergency or accident, the school bus driver is often the first point of contact for students. This means they must be prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to ensure the safety of everyone on the bus. Safety drills can help school bus drivers become familiar with the proper emergency procedures for emergencies such as inclement weather, a fire or explosion, an intruder, weapons, accidents, and more. By participating in safety drills, drivers can develop the skills and confidence needed to respond quickly and effectively in a crisis. Here are some situations in which school bus drivers should be trained to handle emergencies:

  1. Inclement Weather: Emergencies such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or snowstorms can significantly impact transportation routes and road conditions. 
  2. Fire: In the event of a fire, bus drivers need to know how to evacuate the bus quickly and safely while keeping students calm and orderly. They should also be able to identify potential fire hazards on the bus and take proactive measures to prevent fires from starting in the first place. 
  3. Bomb/Explosive: Bus drivers should be conditioned to recognize suspicious packages or objects on the bus and know what to do if they suspect the presence of a bomb or explosive device. 
  4. Intruder/Unauthorized person: In the event of an intruder or an active shooter on the bus, drivers need to know how to secure the bus and keep students safe until help arrives. They should also be taught to recognize suspicious behavior and take appropriate action to prevent or mitigate potential threats.
  5. Crash/Accident: Bus drivers need to be prepared to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a crash or accident. This includes evacuating the bus, administering first aid, and contacting emergency services.

Providing bus drivers access to safety technology can significantly enhance their ability to perform their job safely and efficiently. By reducing the risk of accidents and improving driver behavior, we can help ensure the safety of passengers and others on the road. In order to understand how, consider these reasons:

  1. Enhancing situational awareness: Safety technology such as forward-facing and rear-view cameras, blind-spot monitoring, and collision avoidance systems provide drivers with increased visibility and understanding of their surroundings. 
  2. Improving driver behavior: Some safety technology systems provide real-time feedback to the driver, which can help them correct any unsafe driving behaviors, such as harsh braking or acceleration. 
  3. Reducing the risk of accidents: Safety technology such as lane departure warning systems and automatic emergency braking can detect potential hazards and intervene to prevent accidents before they occur. 

By recognizing the signs of a crisis and taking appropriate action, drivers can help ensure that students receive the support they need to be successful both in and out of school. School bus drivers should be able to recognize student crises for a couple of reasons:

  1. Early intervention: Bus drivers are in a unique position to observe students regularly and may be able to recognize early warning signs of a crisis, such as changes in behavior or demeanor. By identifying these signs early, drivers can take action to help the student before the situation escalates.
  2. Safety: Students in crisis may pose a risk to themselves or others. By recognizing the signs of a problem, bus drivers can take steps to ensure the safety of all passengers on the bus and prevent any potential harm.

While safety is most critical within the walls of the school building, it also reaches further. Understanding the idea that school safety reaches beyond the school property line encourages schools to work with local communities to create a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff. Many students travel to and from school via buses, bikes, or walking. Their safety during these trips is just as important as their safety on school grounds. School officials must work with school bus drivers, local transportation providers, law enforcement, and community organizations to create safe transportation routes and identify potential hazards along the way.

Our product, nSide|Fleet, provides an extra layer of safety for school bus drivers, their passengers, and the staff that oversees them. With just over sixteen percent of accidents relating 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.

February 22, 2023
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