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This fall, more than 50 million students will return to school. For administrators, the start of a new year brings energy and optimism鈥攂ut also the pressure of knowing some safety systems and protocols still aren鈥檛 where they need to be.

As a former police chief, I鈥檝e responded to emergency calls with no context, no floor plan, and no real-time information鈥攐nly the knowledge that a critical situation was unfolding. That鈥檚 been the standard for decades, but it doesn鈥檛 need to be.

Today, better tools exist. Digital safety systems now give schools and first responders shared visibility, real-time communication, and the ability to coordinate proactively. Some states have taken steps like , which requires silent panic alarms in schools. But nationwide, many districts still lack these tools due to budget constraints, staffing limitations, or the logistical challenges of implementing new technology midyear.

Plan Ahead for the Safety of Your Community

The start of the school year is one of the few moments when there鈥檚 room to plan ahead鈥攂efore routines set in and calendars fill up. It鈥檚 a critical time to put new systems in place, train staff, and close gaps that could become critical later.

While active shooter threats dominate headlines, school safety challenges often take other forms: medical emergencies, gas leaks, campus altercations, and fires. In any scenario, delayed communication or outdated systems and protocols can turn a manageable incident into a preventable crisis.

Districts in states like New Jersey and Ohio have adopted platforms that give first responders real-time access to building layouts, entry points, camera feeds, and direct communication with staff during an emergency. These systems integrate with existing infrastructure, cutting response times and improving coordination.

Safety Fuels Student Success

Safety also affects learning. A found more than one-third of students don鈥檛 feel safe at school鈥攁 fear that erodes conditions for success.

Research shows students who feel unsafe are more likely to miss class and score lower on standardized tests. Students today face more stress and uncertainty than ever. If we鈥檙e serious about supporting their growth, safety has to be part of daily school operations鈥攏ot an afterthought.

Preparedness is Key

I鈥檝e worked on both sides, in law enforcement and now in school safety, and I understand how heavy this responsibility is. District & building leaders are tasked with protecting hundreds, if not thousands, of students every day鈥攐ften without enough funding or tools. I鈥檝e seen the difference it makes when schools act early instead of waiting for a crisis.

If campus safety falls under your leadership this year, start by assessing your current readiness with these two questions:

• Who initiates a lockdown, and how quickly can they do it?
• Do staff know how to activate communication systems and coordinate with responders?

You don鈥檛 need a full overhaul to make meaningful improvements, but you do need an honest look at where things stand.

Take Advantage of Available Funding

Next, tap into funding. The federal funds upgrades like access control, surveillance, communication platforms, and law enforcement training. It also covers physical improvements like locks, lighting, and emergency alert systems.

Many states and local governments also offer school safety grants, giving districts multiple paths to fund what they need.

Utilize Your School Community

Get students and teachers involved. Organizations like help schools launch student-led safety clubs. These clubs raise awareness, build engagement, and even fundraise for safety technology鈥攖urning students into partners in prevention.

Leverage Technology Tools

Choose technology partners who understand schools. Emergencies move fast, and that鈥檚 not the time to troubleshoot.

The right solution should integrate with your infrastructure, be easy to activate, and feel intuitive under stress. Ask who鈥檚 behind the product鈥攃ompanies with former public safety professionals often provide practical insights and implementation support.

Be a Safety Advocate

Finally, advocate for safety. You can鈥檛 shoulder this alone. Engage your staff and community about gaps, whether it鈥檚 training, communication tools, or funding support. Be clear with your board about what鈥檚 needed, and don鈥檛 hesitate to involve state legislators when budget constraints stand in the way.

I鈥檝e seen what happens when schools delay safety upgrades until a crisis forces action鈥攊t鈥檚 reactive, disruptive, and often too late. Safety shouldn鈥檛 be a seasonal conversation.

The most effective districts take a proactive approach: assessing readiness, addressing gaps, and ensuring staff are prepared to respond.

We can鈥檛 control every threat, but we can control how prepared we are to face it.