School Security

Schools should use security cameras for several compelling reasons:

Deterrence of Crime: The presence of security cameras acts as a deterrent to potential criminal activity such as vandalism, theft, and violence on school grounds. Knowing that they are being monitored can discourage individuals from engaging in illegal or harmful behavior.

Safety and Security: Security cameras help enhance the safety and security of students, teachers, and staff by providing real-time monitoring of school premises. They can help identify and address potential threats, intruders, or unauthorized individuals entering the campus.

Prevention of Bullying and Violence: Security cameras can help identify instances of bullying, harassment, or physical altercations among students. By monitoring common areas such as hallways, cafeterias, and playgrounds, schools can intervene promptly and take appropriate disciplinary action to prevent further incidents.

Response to Emergencies: In the event of an emergency such as a school shooting, security cameras provide valuable insights for law enforcement and emergency responders. Live video feeds can help authorities assess the situation, locate the threat, and coordinate an effective response to protect students and staff.

Investigation of Incidents: Security cameras serve as a crucial investigative tool in resolving disputes, incidents, or allegations that occur on school premises. Recorded footage can provide objective evidence to corroborate eyewitness accounts, identify perpetrators, and hold individuals accountable for their actions.

Parental Peace of Mind: Parents entrust schools with the safety and well-being of their children. The presence of security cameras reassures parents that the school is taking proactive measures to ensure a secure learning environment. It gives them peace of mind knowing that their children are protected while they are at school.

Monitoring of Visitor Activity: Security cameras can help monitor visitor activity on school grounds, including parents, guests, and vendors. By recording entry and exit points, schools can track visitor traffic, verify identification, and ensure that only authorized individuals have access to the campus.

Liability Protection: In the event of accidents, injuries, or property damage on school premises, security cameras provide objective documentation of what occurred. This documentation can help mitigate legal liabilities, defend against false claims, and protect the school from unwarranted litigation.

Remote Monitoring and Management: With advancements in surveillance technology, schools can remotely monitor security cameras from a centralized location or via mobile devices. This capability allows administrators to stay informed about activities on campus in real-time, even when they are off-site.

Compliance with Regulations: Many jurisdictions require schools to implement security measures to ensure the safety of students and staff. Installing security cameras helps schools comply with regulatory requirements and demonstrate their commitment to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.

In conclusion, security cameras play a vital role in safeguarding schools and promoting a conducive learning environment. By enhancing safety, deterring crime, responding to emergencies, and providing accountability, security cameras contribute to the overall well-being and security of students, teachers, staff, and visitors alike.

Step One:

Depending on the location and type of complex this may vary greatly. Common places to secure in school security are hallways, entrances, parking lot, front office, playground, bus pick-up, cafeteria, stairwells, and athletic fields to name a few. Want help with your design?

Choose your cameras

Dart: The Dart and Dart HD+ is our most versatile camera, it features a 4mm Fixed lens with a 75 degree field of view. It works well when securing something a little more specific. Great for use indoors in hallways or stairwells as well as outdoors to cover a parking lot or entryway. You can count on this camera to help you recognize a face from ~50ft, and with 100ft of IR night vision range it is great at night time as well.

Arrow: The Arrow and the Arrow HD+ is a Variable Lens Camera, this means that the lens can change from 2.8mm -12mm. This makes the arrow a great choice for specific areas of interest. The field of view can be adjusted from 30 Degrees to just over 90 Degrees The arrow to make it useful for any part of the campus. The adjustability of the lens makes it possible to tell significant detail about people and vehicles from ~100ft.

Slingshot: The Slingshot and the Slingshot HD+ is a great choice to capture an entire room from one vantage point, such as a small room or a stairwell without blind spots. It features a 2.8mm Fixed Lens which produces a field of view just over 90 degrees. This weatherproof camera is also great outdoors and can see very well at night with IR night vision.

Longbow: The Longbow and Longbow HD+ is a dome style camera featuring 2.8mm -12mm lens. It is the dome equivalent of the Arrow. This camera also has an IK10 impact rating which makes it our most vandal-proof option. With a field of view from 30 - 90 Degrees, it can be used to capture a wide field of view in areas with elevated ceilings, or can be focused down long narrow hallways. It’s IP66 weatherproof rating and 100ft range of IR night vision also make it useful in outdoor applications.

Choose the Network Video Recorder that is right for you.

The first step in choosing an NVR is knowing how many cameras that you need. Each NVR has a specific bitrate that limits it’s capabilities to a certain number of cameras, they also have different amounts of camera inputs. Most school applications will likely utilize our Obsidian Series of NVRs like our Obsidian 256, which is capable of recording and operating a maximum of 32 cameras. It is a good idea to plan ahead and purchase an NVR that has the capability of handling slightly more cameras than you originally install.

The second thing to consider when selecting an NVR is the amount of captured footage that you would like archived and accessible, common amounts usually fall between 7-30 days. The Obsidian 256 has 4 Hard Drive bays capable of holding a Surveillance Grade HDD. This means that this NVR can hold 32TB of disk space, which usually translates to a few weeks of playback footage depending on your recording method.