ADT Secures America's Schools

13 April, 2009

For more than 130 years, ADT has led the industry in protecting our nation’s educational institutions. ADT secures more than 15,000 schools across the country, from small college campuses to entire school districts, with the most innovative security solutions on the market. ADT is a revolutionary security company, providing highly customizable security packages that include 24-hour alarm system monitoring, and potentially 24-hour video surveillance.

ADT understands that conditions – weather, environmental, safety – change. ADT is very adaptable, ensuring that all security features function regardless of changing conditions.

To encourage safe behavior in America’s schools, K-12, ADT has compiled a list of “10 Steps for Proactively Planning Your School’s Security.”

Safety tips include:

1. Create a security team. Establish an alliance of security partners, and identify a common vision for your school.
2. Develop and implement an annual risk assessment.
3. Perform a complete risk assessment. A qualified ADT security expert can help you evaluate your school’s risk factors.
4. Determine long-term and short-term security needs. Categorize your school’s needs based on results of the risk assessment. Develop a plan to address the issues.
5. Create a budget to tackle areas that need improvement. Changes may cost little to nothing. Keep in mind that inaction, in the end, may be more costly than making improvements.
6. Explore potential funding resources. With proof of a thorough risk assessment, your school may be eligible for federal funding.
7. Include administrators, instructors, parents, students, and local law enforcement in the planning process. Involve the community in your security plan.
8. Create a strategy for addressing areas of risk. Assign security roles to school personnel and other participants. Defined roles are vital to a successful security program.
9. Perform routine inspections, continuously reevaluating the facility’s security.
10. Schedule annual evaluations to monitor security progress, and identify areas that need improvement.