There is an alarming school violence trend in our country – the kind that happens after class is out and draws little attention despite a national push to fortify schools and protect children. Since 2013, there have been at least 108 incidents of gunfire around school sporting events in 36 states, and the number of after-school shootings has far exceeded the number of tragedies that have taken place during school hours. The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety & Security, where researchers have compiled the country’s most comprehensive list of school shootings, shows that shootings at school events are a longstanding problem. But efforts to prevent them have been sporadic, piecemeal and, in some cases, virtually nonexistent.
On many campuses where visitors must provide identification and answer a number of questions to walk into school and active-shooter drills are required, after-hours events are still wide open: anyone who pays a few dollars for a ticket can stroll right in. Emergencies can occur at all sorts of school events: proms, graduations, back-to-school events, concerts, and athletic events. Most shootings at school activities are not carefully planned mass shootings; instead, they frequently come after a disagreement or fight between a few people. Basketball and football games, which often attract hundreds or even thousands of spectators, are especially vulnerable. Some of the very things that can make those events special — whole communities coming out to watch and longstanding rivalries between schools — can also make them very dangerous.
While there has been an intensive focus on security during classroom hours over the last decade, these efforts have yet to carry over to after-school activities. This has left events without basic prevention measures and students and school leaders without emergency response plans. While the challenges for schools to prepare for emergencies during after-hour events are significant, SEC is here to help.
SEC now provides event site assessments to help identify gaps or weaknesses in existing security plans and provide actionable recommendations to better secure students, staff, and visitors attending these events. Following the assessment, your school will receive a detailed findings report, including emerging best practices that can easily be implemented within your overall safety and security strategies. To learn more visit https://secprotects.com/event-assessments/