School Security Planning Workshop :

School Security Planning Workshop

The S2 Institute School Security Planning Workshop is a one-day seminar designed to educate school leaders about effective security and emergency readiness measures for reducing risk of active shooter violence. In this unique program, school security consultant Craig Gundry presents a comprehensive and integrated risk management strategy specifically designed to address the unique culture and operational characteristics of public and independent schools.

To assist school leaders in assessing the their current security measures and identifying potential options for improvement, several self-assessment exercises are conducted through the course of the workshop focusing on issues such as threat assessment and management plans, physical security vulnerability, and emergency readiness.

The protective measures and emergency preparations explored during the School Security Planning Workshop are based on the Guardian SafeSchool Program® standards and reflect state-of-the-art practices in school security. Emphasis in this program is placed on common problems and practical solutions based on the instructor’s extensive experience working with schools across the nation.

Summary of topics include:

Dynamics of Active Shooter Violence in Schools • Security Risk Management Strategy • Safe School Climate and Culture • Psychology of Targeted Violence • School Threat Assessment Methodology • Physical Security Design and Access Control • Emergency Infrastructure Preparations • Emergency Response Planning

- Understand important principles about security risk management in schools
- Develop and implement policies and procedures to reinforce positive school climate and culture
- Reconcile potential conflicts between security issues and school climate and culture
- Understand the pathway to targeted violence and dynamics of mass homicide in schools
- Recognize warning behaviors and students who may be progressing toward violence
- Develop a student threat assessment plan and implement effective procedures in conducting threat assessments
- Understand the principles of effective physical security design as applicable to schools
- Recognize critical vulnerabilities in school physical security and emergency infrastructure, and prescribe effective improvements
- Develop effective emergency response plans for dictating actions during imminently-dangerous events
- Develop a school reunification plan

- Risk Management & School Security
  - Mass Homicide in Schools: The Risk in Perspective
  - Characteristics of Active Shooters in Schools
  - Security Risk Management Strategy
- Safe School Climate and Culture
  - School Leadership and Strategic Planning
  - Fostering a Positive School Culture
  - Positive Disciplinary Practices
  - Reconciling Security Measures and School Climate
  - Educating Parents
- School Threat Assessment
  - Psychology of Targeted Violence
  - Behavior of Concern and Threat Reporting
  - Threat Assessment Methodology
  - Overview of Popular Threat Assessment Models
  - FERPA & Threat Assessment
  - Assessment Factors
  - Threat Management Options
- Physical Security and Schools
  - Physical Security Design Performance and Historical School Cases
  - Perimeter Protection and School Grounds
  - Campus Fencing & Egress
  - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
  - Outdoor Intrusion and Attack Detection
  - School Building Façade and Entrances
  - Entry Control
  - Secure Lobby Design
  - Contraband and Weapons Screening
  - Campus Access Control Systems
  - Secure Classrooms
  - Ballistic Protection
  - Emergency Exits and Egress Obstructions
  - SRO & Security Officer Deployment
  - Practical Integration of Performance-Based Physical Security
- School Emergency Response Planning
  - Emergency Response Team Organization
  - Emergency Communications in Schools
  - Imminent Threat/Active Shooter Response
  - Precautionary Lockdowns
  - Hostage Situations
  - School Reunification
  - Staff and Faculty Preparation

Since the 2013, the S2 Institute has trained over 1,000 school leaders, faculty members, SRO’s, and security professionals in school security topics through public courses and private workshops.

The School Security Planning Workshop is one of several school security courses offered by the S2 Institute. The program was originally developed at the behest of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2014 for the purpose of training NYC-CT area principals and school officials in school security planning.

Since the program’s inception, multiple sessions have been conducted through John Jay College and for school organizations throughout the nation.

In addition to the School Security Planning Workshop, S2’s School Protection Officer (School Security Officer) course was adopted in 2014 as the training model for Newtown Public Schools‘ new armed security force in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. Our School Protection Officer program was also peer reviewed in 2015 by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and hailed as a ‘model for national best practices’ in school security.

In addition to our services as instructors, S2 Institute subject experts provide consulting assistance to schools and colleges throughout the United States for improving school security and emergency readiness. Some examples of our consulting clients include The Diocese of St. Petersburg, Calvary Christian High School, Kingswood Oxford School, North Cobb Christian School, Sayre School, Shorecrest Preparatory School, National Aviation Academy, The College of New Rochelle, and more.

The lead instructor for this course, Craig Gundry, is also frequent speaker on topics related to active shooter violence for organizations such as ASIS International, Southern Association of Independent Schools, AAGO, FFCMA, and more. As a consultant in managing risks of mass homicide, his clients also include a diverse range of corporations and government organizations such as the U.S. Capital Police, U.S. Department of Justice, European Central Bank, European Commission, European External Action Service, and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.