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Campus Security

• Review measures to ensure access to the school campus has been appropriately restricted; procedures are in place to address visitors to campus. 

• The use of security personnel and security equipment (e.g. communication systems, surveillance cameras, and other detection devices, etc.) are appropriately utilized. 

Training

• Review and identify professional development needs for the district that include training on implementing a school safety plan, safe school strategies, crisis response training, consistent enforcement of school discipline policies, and identification and recognition of student mental health issues designed to determine an appropriate first response

Funding

• Determine available sources to address school safety issues. Investigate additional state or federal funding to improve school climate, respond to crises, improve classroom management, and provide comprehensive student mental health services

Our goal is to, by June 30, 2024, strengthen maintenance protocols and implement school safety recommendations to guarantee the continual modernization of all WPS facilities, cultivating an environment that is both secure and supportive for learning by building capacity and valuing knowledge as measured by 100% completion of highest priority, emergency projects identified through safety audit.

Priorities

• Highest priority projects 100% completion 

• Create a system to collect and monitor safety trainings and drills completed

Documentation Review

• Obtained and reviewed relevant information with respect to the engagement. 

• Assessed security policies and procedures.

Site Security

• Conducted a physical security assessment of the school properties and operations

• Analyzed CPTED conditions. 

Survey Surrounding Area

• Assessed the area surrounding the schools.

• Conducted crime analysis.

Stakeholder Interviews

• Conducted interviews with stakeholders.

• Developed a security perceptions survey.

Site Assessment

• Reviewed existing security and technology staffing, and current conditions.

Night Survey 

• Assessed lighting conditions and activity.

• Documented findings.

Draft Report

• Prepared a written draft report with findings, observations and recommendations.

Revise Draft Report

• Revised the draft report based on client input.

• Wayfinding + Signage

• Classroom Locking Mechanisms

• Exterior Locking Hardware

• Vehicle Gates & Fencing

• Classroom Communications

• Centralized Entrances

• Emergency Preparedness

• Key Control

• Lighting

• Video Surveillance

• Intrusion Detection Systems

• Access Control Systems

• Visitor Management

• Intercom Systems

• Emergency Communications

• Public Address System

• Emergency Planning Documents

• Security Protocols

• Security Staffing

• School Liaison Officer Support

• Security-related Policies + Procedures

• 1,321 community members responded to the 20-question survey (estimated four minutes for completion)

• The survey received responses from all buildings included in the assessment with the most results received for Burncoat Middle School (105), South High School (104), North High School (93), Burncoat High School (84) Doherty Memorial High School (83) and Sullivan Middle School (58)

  • Respondents included:

    • Administrators – 69 (5%)

    • Faculty Members – 485 (37%)

    • Parent/Guardian – 192 (15%)

    • Staff Member – 387 (29%)

    • Students – 188 (14%)

• The survey was offered in English, Arabic, Albanian, Nepali, Portuguese, Spanish, Twi, and Vietnamese.

• Overall 58% of respondents stated that they felt very safe or somewhat safe at their building 

• 37% indicated that access to the building was not restrictive enough requiring more control measures when accessing their location

• 47% of respondents were aware of WPS community members raising security concerns 

• In general, the concerns raised for the WPS buildings in the open responses highlighted:

  • Condition + Function of Classroom Doors + Locks

  • Unsecured Parking Areas

  • Exterior Doors Found Propped Open or Unlocked

  • Parents Bypassing Visitor Check-in Process

  • Isolated Area of the Campus

  • Exterior Lighting Issues

  • Inconsistent Video Surveillance Coverage

Access Control

• The district is in the process of adding electronic access control to enable staff members to access a building without having to prop or unlock doors.

• This also enables the District to terminate access instantly as needed and eventually move away from brass keys. 

Exterior Door Inspections

• Due to the condition of the door locking hardware, WPS has started routine door inspections to ensure all exterior points of entry remain in a locked, secure state.

Video Surveillance

• Modern digital video surveillance technology is being deployed at newer school buildings. 

Visitor Management

• The assessment team noted an overall heightened awareness of visitors onsite through the buildings.

Staff Member and Community Engagement

• The survey results show high participation among the WPS community.

• The responses provided candid but useful information on the onsite operations.

• The results showed a good representation of the stakeholder groups included.

Safe Routes

• A strong emphasis has been placed on creating safe routes for students as they travel to and from schools.

Emergency Protocols

• The District is moving to the Standard Response Protocol to streamline the lexicon and instructions on emergency management.

Door Locking Hardware

• Numerous schools reported the inability to secure classrooms because of old, missing, or broken door locking hardware and the poor physical state of the classroom doors.

Key Control

• Key management and control is inconsistent; various keys are in circulation with many that could not be identified stored in baskets, boxes, or desks unsecured.

Emergency Communications

• Schools had challenges with the current public address systems, specifically the ability to hear and understand the emergency announcements made via the PAs and in-classroom intercoms.
  

Manual Visitor Management

• The current registration of visitors is conducted using paper sign-in sheets. Movement to a software-based system would streamline the visitor management process and increase situational awareness across the District.

Wayfinding/Signage

• Opportunities exist to make identifying the Main Offices easier through wayfinding and some design modifications. This reduces the risk of visitors wandering the buildings.

Consistent Technology Deployment

• The District has divergent security technology and application with some schools having strong video surveillance coverage (for instance) while others had very limited coverage.

• The intent is to move to security electronic standards to bring more consistency across the District’s schools.

Alarm Code Vulnerability

• Many schools reported alarm codes that were not unique (shared) with some locations reusing codes issued to former employees.

Perimeter and Lighting

• Some schools would greatly benefit from a more secure perimeter and control points to minimize the risk of unknown/unauthorized individuals accessing the property.

• In addition, some had significant exterior lighting challenges.

• Ensure classroom doors and locking hardware function.

• Ensure timely maintenance for security elements (locks, doors, cameras, intercoms, etc.).

• Establish key management and control.

• Develop standards for security technology, especially video surveillance systems and visitor management, focused on systems integration.

• Ensure the functionality of emergency communications.

• Replace end-of-life / legacy systems with new technology.

• Manage unique intrusion alarm codes for each school.

• Control school access using secure vestibules consistently.

• Add exterior lighting for schools with dark conditions.

• Consider the current security staffing and law enforcement connection.

• Continue to update and streamline emergency management training and guidance.

• Consider perimeter protection measures for certain schools.

• Developed a prioritized implementation plan to meet the recommendations outlined in Guidepost’s comprehensive report.

• Committed to performing maintenance and corrective action on classroom doors and door locking hardware as the top priority for the assessment. 

• Created the Crisis Communication & Response Protocols for Personnel.

• Adopted the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) through the I Love U Guys Foundation for emergency response.

• Engaged principals and administrators on the initial Standard Response Protocol (SRP) training. 

• Continued to partner with the Worcester Police Department based on Memorandum of Understanding with the District. 

• Establishing a formal threat assessment process across the District.

• Considering enhancements to the security staffing support provided to schools.

• Strengthen our culture around safety.

• Lock all exterior doors and do not allow them to be left open or dogged.

• Practice a number of safety drills and create a record of their completion, while noting problems with their completion including facilities issues.

• Conduct after action reviews following a drill or safety related incident to share what happened and why as a means to acknowledge success and drive improved performance.

• Create standardized safety protocols for response and for security. Work to continuously improve these protocols based on their performance.

• Sustain a culture of safety by asking staff to maintain “situational awareness” about students and physical facilities.