Kentucky flood survivors brace for more rainstorms, VIP trips cost migrants their lives in Texas smuggling tragedy, Advice for renters priced out of homebuying, Shrinking schools: Student enrollment drops in U.S. cities, White House responds to Pelosi's potential Taiwan visit, Amid inflation, more Americans turning to dollar stores, Cities face crisis as fewer kids enroll and schools shrink, Harris to announce $1B for extreme weather victims, North calms down while storms pop up elsewhere, Nancy Pelosi starts Asia tour in Singapore, 5 children among 7 killed in wrong-way crash in Illinois, Cheers! $ ~11({_X+01t)`P~Hs&k. But the only mention of door locks in the publicly posted plan was the districts requirement that teachers keep their classroom doors closed and locked at all times without describing the steps they might have to take to do so. sales@safe-latch.com. State Sen. Carol Alvarado, a Democrat, said in a statement that it was worth considering a requirement for interior door locks, but added that such a proposal must come with funding and the passage of some basic common-sense gun reforms.. As a former US Secret Service Special Agent, Mr. Matranga and his team have built what is regarded as the most comprehensive and advanced school safety environment in the nation. The FAA wants to know, What to watch in Tuesday's primary elections, To combat poll worker shortage, Vet the Vote is registering veterans, Trump-backed Cox wins Md. The call for upgraded locks was revived after the 2012 shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut,in which 20 children and six educators were killed by a gunman, and after the 2018 shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which a gunman killed 14 students and three staff members. Taylor said the Oxford shooting was the first time he heard the devices were used in an active shooter situation. IMPORTANT: View our official statement on the Robb Elementary School Shooting. Abbotts office did not respond to requests for comment on whether the state should mandate interior-locking classroom doors. In addition, fire and police authorities must work with school officials to find lockdown and security solutions that do not create new problems or make the problems they are designed to stop worse. All versions of TeacherLock are UL10B, UL10C, NFPA252, and CAN/ULC S104 Listed and Labeled. I think, you know, a lot of it comes down to budget and just the timing, Taylor said. As noted, the PASS Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools recommend that all classrooms be equipped, at a minimum, with mechanical locks appropriate for the K-12 setting, and this should be accompanied by a policy that classroom doors should remain closed and locked when occupied. The most comprehensive information available on best practices specifically for securing school facilities, vetted extensively by experts across the education, public safety and industry sectors. 0000015879 00000 n If there is a need for students and teachers to exit the room quickly, Safe-Latch does not impede that in any way. 0000005798 00000 n The number of options for securing classroom doors speaks to the fact that a quick and easy solution that doesnt cost a lot of money simply doesnt exist. The TeacherLock Activator is tactile in design and is naturally oriented in the correctly clocked position whether left or right handed. New details released after co-pilot falls from plane in North Carolina, Ground beef prices surge as farmers sell off cattle herds, Experts react to Ayman al-Zawahiris death, Chicago woman dead after documenting divorce on TikTok, Britney Spears posts texts from mental health facility, Are airplane seats too small? Then, her student pulled the door open, just as theyd practiced. The company is called LifeLock. 0000008964 00000 n Licenses: CT: ELC.0194904-C5 MA: 3725 C1, SSCO000463 NY:12000320239, Why Security Professionals Oppose Classroom Door Barricades. The upgrade doesnt come cheap installing a Columbine lock can cost between $200 and $900 per door, according to one industry estimate, though some older locks can be modified for less. Despite the efforts of Superintendent Bergant and the Board of Building Standards, new legislation has forced the modification of safety codes in Ohio to allow barricades. We were just one piece of the puzzle.. The locks are mounted to the bottom of a door, so they are not in the reach of intruders. Website Design by DIF Design Then the teacher pulled the door open. But this time it wasnt a drill, and she was terrified. The Uvalde school massacre has sparked renewed calls for interior-locking doors. The issue is now under new scrutiny in the aftermath of the shooting at Robb Elementary. 0000005516 00000 n In this photo, the door is locked when the latch is turned to the right (clockwise). Theres no need to replace entire door systems, install costly electronic access control systems, or incur expensive installation costs. 788 48 Classroom doors cannot have a separately operated deadbolt on them either, because in the case of a fire occupants may struggle with a lock. 0000017522 00000 n The situation can be complicated to navigate and often the correct solutions are costly. Outdated locks are especially common in older school buildings that havent been renovated, industry representatives said. (See Figure B.) 0000017353 00000 n 620 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201 | 410-706-3100, Center for Information Technology Services, Interprofessional Program for Academic Community Engagement, President's Symposium and White Paper Project, Health Sciences and Human Services Library, Financial Assistance for Prospective Students, Financial Assistance for Current Students, Financial Assistance for Graduating Students, Organized Research Centers and Institutes, UMB Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Sponsored Projects Accounting and Compliance (SPAC), Center for Innovative Biomedical Resources, Center for Clinical Trials and Corporate Contracts, Educational Support and Disability Services, Strategic Sourcing and Acquisition Services, International Students, Scholars, and Employees, Starting a New Universitywide Organization, University Student Government Association, Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events. All locks or latches on egress (exit) doors must operate with a single motion. The 1999 massacre at Columbine High School led to a change in standards for classroom locks. 0000031739 00000 n legislation or code changes that provide a special exemption for their use. That'sa vulnerability school safety experts have been warning about for decades. 2021-2022 University of Maryland, Baltimore. Thousands of schools across U.S. lack doors that can be locked from inside, Police could have stopped Uvalde school shooter, new report says. There are three types of active assailant door locks on campus. Safe-Latch has never been rejected by a single fire marshall or inspector. 0000009243 00000 n 0000006309 00000 n TeacherLock is built from aircraft aluminum and stainless steel, and is Made & Assembled in the USA. TeacherLock works on in-swing, out-swing, left and right hand doors! 0000004895 00000 n The district did not respond to questions about the types of locks on its classroom doors or its efforts to make sure the locks worked. Northeast Security Solutions, 33 Sylvan Street, West Springfield, MA 01089, 2022 Northeast Security Solutions. Nickles and his wife live in []. The alleged shooter, 15-year-old Ethan Crumbley, is accused of bringing a gun to Oxford High School on Nov. 30 and shooting multiple people, killing four students, and injuring seven others. Endorsed by Hoffman Security Solutions, LLC. Think about how many hundreds of thousands of schools there are in the United States and in each one, you have maybe 200 doors, she said. Those funds will only go so far, however. At first glance, many of these products look like a good solution. (See Figure C.) Schools with older students may decide this is desirable, but schools with younger or more unpredictable students may not want this type of lock because students could lock students or teachers out as a prank. This is a standard door lock, which sits above the door handle. For these and similar code violations, the Board told the fundraisers in the Southwest Licking School District that they could not install these devices. Taylor said he hopes other school districts across the country will follow in Oxfords footsteps when it comes to active shooter prevention. Before school shootings became a concern, the standard lock that many classrooms utilized was called a classroom function lever. Despite leaving many safety and security professionals unhappy, the new laws settled the issue in Ohio. 0000012854 00000 n Once she was inside, the teacher said, there was no way to confirm whether the exterior handle was locked. Administrators must then ask themselves, How should the door lock, and who should be allowed to lock it?. PASS Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools. trailer Code officialsdo recognize the need to make sure codes help schools stay as safe as possible. 0000002046 00000 n How do we ensure thesolutions implemented dont produce unintended consequences such as fire hazards? Copyright 2018 Defcon Products, LLC- All Rights Reserved. Thats because Robb Elementary is among thousands of schools across the country lacking a basic safety feature that experts have recommended for decades: classroom doors that lock from the inside. This lecture hall style lock is placed on doors with a push bar. The lock includes instructions so you know which way to turn the latch to ensure the door is locked. While no single solution will And it is not certain that the state will take further action on the issue. We must do more than just hardening schools to protect our kids, she said. 0000031451 00000 n But at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that seemingly simple task would require her to take a life-threatening risk. Thats less invasive than virtually any other kind of security measure, Weingarten said. In 2015, a group of Ohio parents in the Southwest Licking School district raised $30,000 to outfit their school doors with lockdown devices. A summary of some of the basic requirements are as follows: Many of the quick fix barricade devices violated one or more of theserequirements. About UMB History, highlights, administration, news, fast facts, Academics Schools, policies, registration, educational technology. They had a lot of other protocols and trainings that helped a lot as well.. Despite the credit his company is getting, Taylor said the school was well prepared in the event of an active shooter. Bergants thoughts werenoteworthygiven his unique experience as superintendent. The products available for the task meet just a couple of those characteristics. assessment, and relevant state laws or local code requirements. In some of Americas biggest cities, there are a growing number of schools with a shrinking number of students. But there is a broad consensus among experts and school safety advocates that this is a simple and effective measure that some school districts have left by the wayside even as theyve spent millions on new security. Does the solution make sure that a criminal cannot lock him or herself into a classroom? Such obstacles have deterred some school districts from upgrading their locks, said Curtis Lavarello, executive director of the School Safety Advocacy Council, an industry training and consulting group. The cost may be higher for leaving classrooms exposed, he said. 788 0 obj <> endobj Never obstructs the ability to exit safely. 0000001690 00000 n View our official statement on the Robb Elementary School Shooting. My head exploded when I found out the only way they could check the lock is by checking from the outside, said Bettencourt, a member of the Texas Senate committee investigating the shooting. Security experts say that being able to lock a classroom door from the inside is crucial to protecting students during a school shooting. Leaders and analysts react to news of Ayman al-Zawahiris assassination. At first, Mexican migrants Pablo Ortega and Julio Lopez enjoyed the smuggling equivalent of a first-class ticket to the United States: complimentary beers, safe houses with video games, even a week at a hunting ranch. Uvaldes school district did not respond to questions about locks on its classroom doors or the Robb Elementary teachers account of the shooting. that all classrooms can be locked from the inside as a basic protection for No matter what position the Safe-Latch is in, the door will open exactly as designed. 0000003105 00000 n The facts simply do not support the use of barricade devices. TeacherLock is designed as aspecialized lockfor use in lockdown emergencies. Manufacturers offer many products marketed as an effective way to lock out a criminal, with door barricades being among the most popular. Teachers and students are trained to use the lock in the event of an emergency. Other Links: Classroom Safety, Active Shooter Training, Classroom Door Access Control. School districts and administrators get overwhelmed with numbers of options and solutions, said Cedric Calhoun, chief executive officer of DHI, an industry group for door security professionals. make our schools safe, school safety experts and all the various government Major facility upgrades can cost millions of dollars in a single school district, and most of the money still has to come from local sources, including bond measures that voters must approve. Among the array of missteps and errors that allowed the Uvalde shooting to result in so many deaths including a delayed police response that let the siege drag on for more than an hour the schools doors have emerged as a major security flaw. We provide all of the hardware that you need. 0000011310 00000 n 1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. If schools cant afford to change their locks, Lavarello said, they should require classroom doors to be locked at all times and conduct checks to make sure the rule is being followed. If youve been knocked out of one too many deals and need a timeout, heres how to regroup and keep the homeownership dream alive. Some states are also ramping up spending: Iowa recently dedicated $100 million in new funds that will grant schools up to $50,000 per building for security measures. The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is excited to share itsnew online giving page. However, issues were identified with the devices violating current building and fire codes. 0000100502 00000 n To remove any doubt, she came up with a system for the lockdown drills. 0000004669 00000 n In addition, there are multiple viewpoints on what the best way to handle an active shooter is so one must navigate through products designed to meet different objectives. The moment she heard the first pops of gunfire, the teacher knew what she had to do: She needed to make sure that her classroom door was locked. Theres no question we have to have that discussion, he said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. This alarming figure has greatly concernedparents, school workers, and safety workers, andwhen they search for answers they often find conflicting theories on what best practices to follow. Its a little overwhelming, said Taylor, who joined The Donlon Report on Tuesday. It was a problem at least one teacher had previously flagged to the school, but which was not fixed, McCraw said. When the Ohio State Board of Building Standards informed the district of the devices flaws and banned their use, the local school district appealed. The best barricade on the market is not a barricade at all. After Texas dedicated $100 million for school security grants in 2019, the Uvalde school district was awarded about $69,000 to upgrade its security systems, a third of which it planned to spend on perimeter fencing for a single campus, according to the state Education Department. Suzy Khimm is a national investigative reporter for NBC News based in Washington, D.C. Jon Schuppe is an enterprise reporter for NBC News, based in New York. Joe Taylor, the co-founder of LifeLock, said he was shocked by the number of calls from parents all across the school district. The Robb teacher who spoke to NBC News said that school police officers would routinely roam the halls to ensure that classroom doors were locked. 0000101135 00000 n xref In this photo, the latch would be turned counter-clockwise to lock the door and would be turned clockwise to unlock the door. 0000010414 00000 n 0000004154 00000 n Tried, tested and approved, Safe-Latch is helping thousands of school districts keep student, teachers and staff safe every day right now. The bipartisan gun control bill that President Joe Biden signed into law last month includes $100 million that schools can use for safety infrastructure improvements. %%EOF The boy, with tears in his eyes, nodded and said, Yes, maam.. Mechanical locks appropriate for the K-12 setting: The choice among these lock types You know, we can take part of the credit. 835 0 obj <>stream Jim Martin, who leads the boards facilities committee, said that he received about a dozen emails from residents asking for the locks to be changed on classroom doors after the Uvalde shooting; hes also received dozens of marketing emails from companies that sell classroom door locks, he said. Sania Khan, 29, was found dead in her Chicago apartment July 18. With safety as our top priority, our product does not breach egress or any fire codes. In her article Door Security & Safety Foundation Represented at Ohio Hearings, Lori Greene writes, Its important to help code officials, school districts, legislators, law enforcement, and parents understand the risks involved with putting lower-cost security ahead of safety. Lieutenant Joseph A Henry also writes that most facilities are looking for cheap solutions to solve a long ignored problem. Choosing the right hardware to secure a school is a good first step. (The school district did not respond to questions about its security measures and oversight of its facilities.) 0000093970 00000 n 0000010077 00000 n 0000060296 00000 n We also provide jigs to make your install easy and worry free. Youve got to have doors that can be secured and locked from the inside otherwise youre putting people in the hallway with an active shooter.. Standard Classroom Lever with No Key Hole on the Inside, Figure B. This lock includes a window which indicates whether the door is locked or unlocked. 0000017423 00000 n Find out how Safe-Latch can improve safety and security for your school today. But the logistics and expense of installing these locks can dissuade districts from investing in them, said Amy Klinger, founder and director of programs for The Educators School Safety Network, a nonprofit group that helps districts protect against gun attacks. Anytime an alarm sounded, she would step into the hall and pull the classroom door shut, then test the exterior handle to make sure it was locked and latching correctly. Amid the pressure to harden schools, and in the absence of state or local requirements to upgrade locks, districts have bought everything from bulletproof whiteboards to artificial intelligence-powered gun detection devices, despite scant evidence that such products prevent shootings. In most locations, however, schools must still choose security equipment that meets local safety codes. The Commission cannot emphasize enough the importance of this recommendation. These are Americas 10 most popular beers, NewsNation: Senators expect agreement on burn pit bill, Hollywood Farmers Market closed during police standoff, FCC: Robotext scams on the rise, here's how you can stay safe, Sen. Manchin didn't believe deal 'would come to fruition'. As most of her students crawled under their desks to take cover, she made eye contact with one child she had always given the same job during their lockdown drills, the teacher recalled in an interview. Finally, high-quality, code-compliant lock hardware designed for classroom security generally costs much more than the quick fix barricade devices. Efforts to expand the requirement to all existing schools ran aground after objections over the high price tag and the logistical difficulties of retrofitting older buildings. 0000001281 00000 n I was in the hallway with him, she said of the gunman. She darted back into the classroom, pushed the door closed and they joined the other students hiding on the floor. 620 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201 | 410-706-3100 2021-2022 University of Maryland, Baltimore. Thats why post-shooting safety commissions, teachers, fire safety groups and both gun rights and gun control groups have all advocated for interior-locking doors since the Columbine shooting in 1999, in which two students killed 12 classmates and one teacher. Entrance function levers feature a turn or push button that allows students to lock the door from the inside. However, classroom doors often have windows that allow an intruder to scope out potential victims. backing of industry lobbyists, federal lawmakers have poured funding into school security upgrades. Although she believes the government should make it more difficult to purchase assault-style rifles, including raising the minimum age, she wanted to make sure the lawmakers knew about a more basic concern. 0000012567 00000 n The Safe School Infrastructure Council Report (SSIC Report) includes a standard requiring classroom and other safe-haven areas to have doors that can be locked from the inside. With this function, teachers do not have to enter thehallway to lock the classroom door. 0000074635 00000 n But Bettencourt did not specify what, if anything, the state should do to ensure that classrooms had interior-locking doors in place, or whether the government should provide additional funding for such upgrades. However, it is important that officialsmake changes through a careful process, not as a knee-jerk reaction. Mike Hixenbaugh is a senior investigativereporter for NBC News, based in Houston. 0000003777 00000 n The University of Maryland, Baltimore is the founding campus of the University System of Maryland. Despite billions of dollars that have been poured into hardening schools nationally, 1 in 4 U.S. public schools lack classroom doors that can be locked from the inside, according to a survey conducted two years ago by the National Center on Education Statistics, a federal research office.

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