AASA Releases 2008 National School Safety Study

Seventy-three percent of respondents say their districts practice lockdown procedures on a routine basis. Two-thirds report that staff are continuously trained and drilled.

ARLINGTON, Va. – School administrators across the United States take seriously their responsibility for ensuring school security, which is demonstrated by the release of the 2008 National School Safety Study, a joint project of the American Association of School Administrators and Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, in consultation with RETA Security, Inc. The study assesses the status of security in the nation's K-12 public schools, based on a survey of school leaders nationwide.

Meeting the Security Challenge

Over the past decade, districts have made significant strides in developing effective school security processes and programs. The study reveals the following about school security:

• More than 90 percent of districts responding to the survey have written crisis procedures addressing protocols for fire, weather, medical emergencies and violence.
• Three-quarters of respondents possess and make parents aware of systems that will be used to communicate with parents in case of emergency.
• Seventy-three percent of respondents report that their districts practice lockdown procedures on a routine basis. Approximately two-thirds of respondents report that staff are continuously trained and drilled on security procedures.
• More than 70 percent of respondents report that students and staff are periodically surveyed about their perception of the extent to which bullying is present in the school community.

The study also directs school districts with common-sense measures they can implement to increase the safety of students at little or no cost during these challenging economic times. For example, school systems can organize school safety committees with broad-based stakeholder representation that meet regularly to review school policies, programs, responsibilities, issues, and needs.

As a follow-up to the study, AASA, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and RETA Security Inc. are discussing how to best leverage the results of the study to the advantage of America's school communities. Potential plans include regional training initiatives for AASA members, which will also encompass actionable programming for areas that need no additional financial resources.

"School leaders are dedicated to making sure students, teachers and staff are in the safest possible learning environments," noted AASA Executive Director Daniel A. Domenech. "To that end, we welcome the opportunity to use the data presented in this landmark study to ensure all schools have the best security resources available."

The 2008 National School Safety Study is based on the Risk Mitigation Assessment, a survey instrument created by Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and RETA Security Inc. The assessment identifies potential threats and determines action items to ensure the security of school systems.

"Ingersoll Rand undertook this initiative in keeping with our corporate stewardship responsibility," said Beverly Vigue, vice president of the company's Education Solutions group. "The Risk Mitigation Assessment as a tool to help our nation’s public schools is an excellent example of the ways public-private partnerships can be used for the common good. There's also tremendous value in getting the most accurate pulse on trends in school security in order to remain at the forefront in developing truly effective solutions that keep learning environments safe and productive."

"It is important for schools to place first priority on improving the areas of access control and communications," added Paul Timm, PSP, president of RETA Security. "Demonstrating that there are low-cost, common-sense measures each school district can implement is a significant first step in providing a safer learning environment for students, staff, and visitors."

The full survey results are available on the AASA website. 

About the Study
AASA invited 9,260 AASA members to complete the Risk Mitigation Assessment online over the course of nine weeks (June 4-Aug. 11, 2008). A total of 445 responses were received, yielding a response rate of 4.8 percent.

About AASA
The American Association of School Administrators (http://www.aasa.org/), founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders across the United States. AASA members range from chief executive officers, superintendents and senior-level school administrators to cabinet members, professors and aspiring school system leaders. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children.

About Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand (www.ingersollrand.com) is a global diversified industrial firm providing products, services and solutions to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and enhance industrial productivity and efficiency. Within the Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sector, the company’s Education Solutions group is dedicated to creating and supporting innovative solutions for safe and secure schools and campuses.

About RETA Security Inc.
For 25 years, RETA Security Inc. (www.retasecurity.com) has provided the highest level of independent, non-product affiliated, school security consulting services. Solutions include physical security assessments using patented methodology, training, and comprehensive planning strategies to prevent and prepare for crises. RETA Security’s mission is to assist educational leaders in providing a more secure learning environment.