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Follow on Google News |  School Safety Firms Partner to Introduce The Comprehensive School Safety SolutionBridging School Safety Budget Cuts with People, Process and Technology
By: Bo Wandell Available starting today, the CS3 is a new approach to school safety and security that integrates people, process and technology into a suite of consulting services and technology products. More information can be found at http://www.cs3- Martin Speckmaier and Bo Wandell developed The Comprehensive School Safety Solution through a collaboration of their respective companies. Speckmaier's Comprehensive School and Workplace Safety, LLC, is a school safety-consulting firm. Wandell's Site Security 360, is a systems integration company focused on designing, installing and supporting school safety technologies. According to Speckmaier, educators at all levels are seeking creative and cost effective strategies to maintain or enhance school safety in the face of cuts in state funding. As a nationally recognized school safety expert, Speckmaier has provided school safety consulting to hundreds of schools in Washington State and nationwide. He said, "Washington State's 2010 supplemental budget will result in the reduction or elimination of many school safety and security related staff and programs at a time when campus safety is a big concern for administrators, faculty, students and parents. Despite the budget cuts, school and college administrators take their duty to provide students with safe and secure learning environments very seriously. CS3 meets their needs by integrating proven crime and violence prevention strategies and new networked security technologies to maintain, and even enhance, safety on campuses with less staff and funds." Establishing Linkages To Enhance School Safety Speckmaier said creating and sustaining safe schools during a lean time requires the development of direct and durable linkages between education and community stakeholders. "Education and stakeholders like law enforcement work well together on a personal level, but many have not yet defined the processes and policies that drive the level of cooperation required to stop gang activity, get drugs off campus or manage a violent incident." Wandell, a technology executive who has been involved in some of Washington's best known technology services firms, added, "Networked technology has brought efficiencies to almost every aspect of our professional lives and school safety is no exception. Security technologies empower the linkages between education and community stakeholders. Advancements in security products, like megapixel video cameras and networked access control, allow smaller security staffs and busy administrators to monitor the entire campus or just hot spots from a PC or smart phone." Security Technology Plays An Important Role, But . . . However, Speckmaier cautioned that technology is only one component of an effective school safety solution. He said, "Too often schools spend a lot of money installing security technology without developing the policies and procedures that guide how it will be used to enhance safety and prevent violence. With the intervention and prevention training and well defined processes delivered with our Comprehensive School Safety Solution, school staff will know how to use security technology to identify a small problem and get involved before it grows into a violent or unsafe incident." Speckmaier said that the first phase of the CS3 includes safety and needs assessments. The assessments identify gaps in safety strategies or policies and recommend how schools can strengthen a school's security efforts. He said, "After a school's security needs have been identified through safety and site assessments, our CS3 team designs a custom solution that includes safety and security procedures, intervention and response plans, and the deployment of technology to economically augment security and communication." By embracing integrated safety strategies and technologies, schools can quickly realize positive social benefits and a return on investment, according to Wandell. "Schools that have embraced a comprehensive school safety strategy find it is powerful deterrent to drug dealers, gang members and bullies. The cost savings from reduced vandalism, graffiti and theft are measurable and significant. Because we help schools develop safety related processes and policies, a school's potentially expensive legal exposures are also minimized." he said. Wandell added that in many cases the cost savings associated with deploying a Comprehensive School Safety Solution willl pay for the installation and support of the security technology. http://www.cs3- # # # About Comprehensive School and Workplace Safety, LLC: Based in Seattle, WA, provides support and resources for schools and their communities with the ultimate goal of keeping all kids safe. As experts in school safety, Comprehensive School and Workplace Safety offers consultations, presentations and trainings to schools and communities who want to enhance a safe school environment. http://www.school- About Site Security 360, Inc.: Systems integration firm based in Mercer Island, WA that designs, installs and supports networked security technologies. Bo Wandell, a veteran technology executive who specializes in developing complete solutions by integrating technology and consulting services, founded Site Security 360. http://www.sitesecurity360.com End
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