ADT Expert Says Parents Can be as Influential as School Board Members,
Superintendents, Principals and Teachers
BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- As students head back to the
classroom, a leading school security expert reminds parents of school-age
children they can play an important role in helping assure prevention
measures are implemented in their child's school.
Patrick Fiel, former security chief for Washington, D.C. schools and
now a school safety expert for ADT Security Services, said parents can be
as influential as school board members, superintendents, principals and
teachers in helping prevent violence in schools. ADT Security Services
currently works with more than 15,000 schools and universities across the
country to identify ways of improving safety and security on their
campuses.
"Parents, who are also taxpayers and voters, have the power to effect
change if they are willing to become involved both individually and
collectively," he said. "All members of the education community --
including parents -- need to be involved in helping provide a safe and
secure environment where children can learn without fear."
To help parents become more involved in securing school campuses, Fiel
has a list of six steps they can follow.
1. Talk to your children about school security. Kids are very tuned into
what happens on their campuses. They know where there are weak spots
in the security plans. Ask them about the security drills or other
emergency procedures in place at their school. Also talk to them about
resolving conflicts in a peaceful, nonviolent manner and about
immediately reporting to school officials any threatening talk or
behavior from other students.
2. Visit your child's campus and talk with an administrator about the
security plan. Among other things, find out how visitors can enter
the campus. Ask if the doors are regularly locked. Check to see if
the campus has cameras monitoring entries, hallways and common areas.
Ask if the school has a plan in place for handling an armed person on
campus.
3. Educate yourself on the plans, procedures and technologies working
well at other schools. Contact the National Crime Prevention Council
http://www.ncpc.org for a copy of the Caregivers' Guide to Safety and
Security and School Safety and Security Toolkit: A Guide for Parents,
Schools and Communities.
4. Get to know the law enforcement officials assigned to your child's
school. Find out when they are on campus and what their
responsibilities include. If your child's school does not have a
regularly assigned law enforcement official, work with the school to
make that happen.
5. Join other parents who may also be concerned about the security of
their children. Become involved in the PTA or PTO and start a
security committee if one does not already exist. Ask school
officials to meet regularly with the group and report on
security/safety incidents and continuing plans to keep the campus
safe. Be an active participant by asking questions.
6. Do not keep firearms easily accessible in your home. If you have
weapons in your house make sure that they are kept locked and secured.
Report a missing or stolen firearm to police immediately. Teach
children respect for the devastation that can occur when weapons get
into the wrong hands or are used improperly.
"School administrators and teachers cannot be expected to solve the
problems of school violence alone," said Fiel. "Parents have to share the
burden. By talking with their children, keeping informed, working with
other parents, school administrators and law enforcement officials, parents
can play a vital role in keeping their children safe at school."
More information about the security solutions ADT provides for schools
is available by visiting http://www.adt.com. ADT also offers a free school
security assessment by calling (877) 258-6421
About ADT Security Services
Celebrating its 133rd anniversary, ADT Security Services, a unit of
Tyco International, is the largest provider of electronic security services
to nearly six million commercial, government and residential customers
throughout North America. ADT's total security solutions include intrusion,
fire protection, closed circuit television, access control, critical
condition monitoring, electronic article surveillance, radio frequency
identification (RFID) and integrated systems. ADT web-site address is
http://www.adt.com.
SOURCE ADT Security Services
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Related links:
http://www.adt.com
http://www.ncpc.org
CONTACT:
Ann Lindstrom of ADT Security Services,
+1-561-988-3258, alindstrom@adt.com
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