Barron’s, one of the nation’s most respected book publishers, has requested that Safe Havens develop a concept for a sequel to Staying Alive – How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters.  Designated as a top four publisher’s pick from the 160 titles to be published by Barron’s this year, Staying Alive is a heavily researched book.  The seven subject matter expert reviews of Staying Alive have been positive and the editorial and project management teams at Barron’s have expressed that to us that they have been extremely impressed with the quality of our research, authoring, editing ,and project management.  The five person team that has worked on Staying Alive has met every deadline during the project.  Staying Alive will be released in bookstores this April.  A powerful free web viewable companion video will be released on the Safe Havens website in March.

We feel honored that this distinguished publisher has expressed interest in a sequel when for a book that is not yet been published.  I have been published by a number of other reputable publishers including Jane’s and Prentice Hall and feel truly blessed to be able to work with such high caliber publishers.

During a series of interviews with the producer for the Today Show, I was asked to provide a list of high end school access control practices.  While truly effective school access control can be a bit more complicated than a bullet list of concepts, I thought the observations we have had from thousands of school security assessments we have assisted with might prove to be helpful to many readers. 

While it is critical to note that school access control concepts should be tailored to fit local conditions, the following concepts can often help to improve school access control.  Our analysts also hasten to point out that school access control is often only as reliable as the weakest link.  For example, superb front entryway design, technologies and staffing can become often easily be defeated if staff prop side doors open with rocks and other objects.  This aspect of school access control also makes it even more important to use a layered approach to school security. 

With these cautions in mind, the following practices can improve the reliability of access control in most K12 schools:

1.  A thoughtfully developed and properly communicated policy on school access control

2.  Keeping all exterior doors locked during the school day

3.  Providing quality staff development on school access control, visitor screening and visitor management practices

4.  Providing effective training in pattern matching and recognition techniques to help school employees quickly spot and react to potentially dangerous people

5.  100% wear of photo identification cards by all staff and time sensitive visitor badges for all visitors

6.  Remote buzzer access with camera and audio to screen visitors before they are admitted

7.  Security film on perimeter doors and windows

8.  Requiring visitors who staff do not know by full name on sight to show photo identification or be personally identified by another staff member before being admitted beyond the office area

9.  Any visitor who will be in proximity to students or who is going to be allowed to leave with a child must be checked against sexual predator database and outstanding court orders

10.  Teaching students to report any adult in the building who is now wearing a staff identification card or visitor badge

While this list is not intended to be a comprehensive approach to school access control, the concepts listed above can make it less likely that school access control will be defeated while increasing the chances that someone who is able to breach perimeter security is quickly detected and reported.

Safe Havens is pleased to announce that we have just ordered the ninth printing of Weakfish – Bullying Through the Eyes of a Child.  This book has been helpful to many school safety practitioners over the years because it helps them see the connection between what research says and the story of an actual child.

 We are excited that demand for the book is still strong after more than a decade.  There are many excellent books on bullying out there and as an author I am thankful that so many people still read Weakfish.   Though my first book to be stocked by bookstores Staying Alive – How to Act Fast and Survive Deadly Encounters is expected to sell far more copies, Weakfish is a very personal book to me. 

As a child who struggled to be able to read, I dreamed of writing a book someday.  Being able to publish multiple books is beyond my wildest childhood dreams.   Being a diagnosed Dyslexic, I can vividly recall not being able to read.  Thanks to a dedicated teacher and an amazing program for Dyslexic children, I am able to read and write today.  Each time a new printing of Weakfish comes out, I feel blessed that I received this critical assistance.