School Security Guards

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School shootings, campus assaults, and bomb threats are always in the news. If you’re a private or public school administrator in the United States, you may be worried about how you can best protect your students from gun violence and other criminal activity.

One solution that schools consider is to hire a school security guard. Security guards keep a watchful eye over the students and school, and can respond to warning signs before they escalate.

Here’s a look at the benefits of hiring a school security guard, as well as what type of security schools need and where to find the right guard for the job.

Learn about other specialized security services:

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Common School Safety Risks

In 2023 alone, there were 346 school shootings in the U.S. Children attend school for an average of 180 days every year, which means that the U.S. sees an average of nearly two shootings each day that school is in session. Out of those 346 shootings that occurred in 2023, 191 victims were wounded and 57 were killed.

Almost every state in the U.S. experienced a school shooting in 2023. Texas, Maryland, and California experienced the most casualties, while Maryland, Kentucky, and Alabama had the highest ratio of injuries and deaths per population.

These statistics make it clear why so many parents now worry about their children’s safety at school. Students and staff also fear that they could be put in harm’s way at any time while they’re on school property.

However, a school security guard can keep students and staff safe while providing peace of mind to parents. In addition to reducing the frequency and severity of school shootings and other violent crimes, school security guards can also prevent non-violent crimes and conflicts.

The Benefits of Hiring Security Guards to Protect Your School

Whether they attend a K-12 school or a university, all students deserve to be educated in a peaceful and secure setting. Hiring a professional security guard is one way to ensure this.

Protect Students and Staff

School security guards oversee the safety of a school. They can monitor who enters and exits school property, track suspicious incidents, and physically protect students and staff.

Security guards can give everyone peace of mind while making schools safer. Teachers can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning. Meanwhile, parents can rest assured that their child is secure.

School Security Guards Deter Criminal Activity

Sometimes, the mere presence of a security guard is enough to deter a criminal. If someone wants to commit a crime but knows they’re at risk of being seen, they’re less likely to go through with it.

Visible on-site guards can deter everything from petty crimes, like trespassing and vandalism, to more dangerous and lethal criminal activity.

Detect Suspicious Activity

Teachers spend their day educating students, and school administrators stay busy running the school — making it difficult for them to notice every threat or unusual incident.

A security guard’s responsibility is to monitor and protect the school. By hiring one or more people who can dedicate every moment to school safety, your school can notice and quickly respond to suspicious activity.

Provide Instant Emergency Response

Professional security guards are trained in emergency response techniques.

Some even have first responder training so they can act fast in a medical emergency.

Likewise, armed security guards receive firearms training that could help them take down an active shooter. Security guards are also trained to create and roll out plans for different emergency scenarios, and can contact local law enforcement officers if outside help is needed.

Check Out: Fire Watch Security: Everything You Need to Know

What Do School Security Officers Do?

The day-to-day duties of a school security guard will depend on the type of guard you hire and the security needs of your school.

Access Control

Access control is a security measure that regulates who can not only access the school, but specific areas of the school.

School security guards oversee access control by monitoring all entrances and exits to the campus, including parking lots, athletic grounds, and classrooms. If anyone is not authorized to be on the property, security will immediately remove them.

If your school has metal detectors, guards can operate them and screen students, staff, and visitors for weapons.

Patrol and Surveil

School security guards should constantly patrol the hallways, lunchrooms, and other common areas to look for suspicious activity. In the process, they can provide crowd control and keep hallway traffic moving in between classes.

They can also use their patrols to de-escalate conflict among students and reduce or prevent bullying. Bullying is a common concern for students in middle schools and high schools, as well as many elementary schools. Students are less likely to bully other children when a security guard is watching.

School Security Responds to Emergencies

Security guards who have first responder training can provide immediate care to an injured person before EMTs, medics, or other first responders arrive on scene. Armed guards may be able to disarm an active shooter, and guards who have de-escalation training may be able to talk a dangerous person into surrendering.

Once an emergency has been handled, the guard will take steps to restore safety and order so that the school can resume normal activities.

Escort Students and Staff

Students, teachers, and staff don’t always leave school at the same time. Many teachers work late to grade papers and students stay for after-school activities. If it’s after hours, guards can safely escort students and staff members when they’re leaving school property.

What Type of School Security Officers Do You Need?

Every school environment is different. Before you hire a school security guard, assess your school’s security needs to determine what type of services a security guard will need to provide.

School administrators should consider whether they want:

Unarmed or armed guards
Daytime, evening, or 24/7 guards
On-site and/or off-site security and surveillance

Unarmed vs Armed Security Guards

Depending on your location, the current security measures in place, and your campus’ vulnerabilities, you may or may not need armed guards.

Parents’ and school staff’s opinions about armed versus unarmed guards at schools differ across states, cities, and school districts. In many scenarios, unarmed guards are more than enough but other schools may find that armed guards are a better choice.

Also see: Armed vs. Unarmed Security Guards

Daytime vs 24/7 Guards

Some schools only need to hire guards to work while class is in session. Other schools may prefer to hire security teams who will protect their campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For example, many elementary schools only staff guards during the day when school is in session. College campuses, where people come and go all the time, require around-the-clock security. Middle schools and high schools with outdoor fields and recreational facilities often choose to hire 24/7 security to prevent people from trespassing on school property after hours.

Every school should assess their own specific needs.

Even if you choose to hire daytime-only guards, it’s best to also hire them to work major events that happen outside of normal school hours, such as:

Graduation ceremonies
Sporting events
Awards ceremonies
Parent-teacher conferences
Any other events that are open to the public or attract crowds, such as concerts, plays, science fairs, and art exhibits

Off-Site vs On-Site Security

On-site security guards work on school property. They can safeguard the entire campus, from parking lots and entryways to the interiors of school buildings.

Off-site security guards, who work school-related events that are off school grounds, can also offer big benefits. Some schools hire guards to provide off-site security for field trips, or to monitor and patrol nearby blocks and off-campus pathways at arrival and dismissal times.

If a school has security cameras for CCTV monitoring, the school might hire off-site guards who keep an eye on the school hallways and campus from a remote location.

You Might Like: Full Guide to CCTV Monitoring

How to Find the Best School Security Guard and Services for Your School

Schools should research security guard companies that specialize in the protection of schools.

Determine your school’s security needs, then look for a security firm that provides the services that can address those needs. For example, some companies only provide physical guards, while others provide onsite guards plus 24/7 remote video surveillance monitoring.

Keep in mind that security companies can do much more than staff your school with trained security professionals. Below is an overview of some of the key services that security personnel can provide.

Conducts Risk Assessments

All professional security companies will run a risk assessment to uncover any risks that could make the school campus vulnerable. This includes entry points that might be overlooked, indoor areas that lack safe exits, and locations that could benefit from security cameras.

Install Cameras

Security companies can also install video cameras and set up a 24/7 CCTV surveillance system. Even if your school already has a security camera system, it may be wise to install additional or newer cameras that provide clearer footage in all the right places.

Install Alarms

Professional security companies can also install alarm systems, such as glass break sensors, and access-control systems. For students and visitors, this may include metal detection systems. For teachers and staff, this may include installing door locks that can only be opened with an authorized key fob or identification key card.

Background Checks

Browse recommended security services in popular destinations:

Security guards in Los Angeles | security guards in Sacramento | security guards in San Francisco

Background checks for security guards are a common practice at most security firms. Because school security guards work with children, make sure that the security firm you use runs background checks on all of their guards.

Providing the best possible security for your students is just as important as providing them a solid education. When teachers and students don’t feel safe, it’s harder for them to teach and learn.

Students and staff deserve to feel safe at school. If your school has yet to update its security measures, do so now. Contact Security Explorer today to discover the best security services for schools in California.

Common School Safety Risks