Classroom safety should be a top priority for schools nationwide.
One specific recommendation, pulled from the 2022 Arkansas School Safety Final Report, highlights the importance of protecting glass that provides vision or access between classrooms and corridors.
The recommendation states:
“District campuses need to protect any glass that allows vision or access into the classroom from the corridor.”
This article explores the reasoning behind these recommendations and why installing shatter-resistant film and utilizing vision panel covers are effective, economical safety measures.
Why Protect Classroom Glass?
Classroom glass serves multiple purposes during regular school operations:
Visibility and Accountability: Glass panels allow administrators and other staff to monitor classroom activity, ensuring a safe and productive environment.
Natural Light and Accessibility: Glass windows and doors help create an open, inviting learning space.
However, this same visibility can pose risks in the event of an active shooter or other security threat.
The Threat to Classroom Glass
Glass in classroom doors and windows can become a point of vulnerability during emergencies.
The 2022 Arkansas School Safety Final Report cites the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where the shooter shot through the vision panels of locked classroom doors, harming students without physically entering the rooms.
This tragic incident highlighted the need to secure these vulnerable access points.
Shatter-Resistant Film: A Practical Solution
Shatter-resistant film offers a balanced approach to improving classroom security.
While it does not make glass completely impenetrable, it effectively delays forced entry and can reduce visibility into classrooms. Here’s how it works:
1. Delays Forced Entry
Shatter-resistant film holds broken glass together, making it significantly harder for intruders to breach the barrier. This delay provides critical time for students and staff to react and for law enforcement to arrive.
2. Reduces Injuries
During active shooter events or severe weather, shattered glass can cause additional harm. Shatter-resistant film minimizes the risk of flying shards, protecting those inside the classroom.
3. Reduces Target Identification
Depending on the type of film used, visibility into classrooms can be obscured, making it harder for an attacker to identify targets. This additional layer of security enhances protection, but it also compromises the ability of staff to monitor classrooms effectively.
Vision Panel Covers: Adding a Layer of Protection
Using covers on vision panels during lockdowns provides another essential layer of defense. This measure directly addresses the behavior of attackers in active shooter situations.
Why Vision Panel Covers Are Effective
Obstructing Target Visibility: Research shows that attackers often seek quick access and visible targets. When they cannot see inside a room, they are more likely to move on to other locations.
Creating a Blind Area: Vision panel covers can create a designated blind area within the classroom, giving students and teachers a safe space to hide during lockdowns.
Simple Implementation: Vision panel covers are an affordable and easily implemented measure that works seamlessly with other security protocols.
The Current Gap
According to the 2022 School Safety Assessment, 53% of school districts do not currently use covers on vision panels.
Addressing this gap is a straightforward way to enhance lockdown procedures and overall security.
Why These Measures Are Economical Choices
Compared to replacing all classroom glass with ballistic materials or redesigning doors entirely, shatter-resistant film and vision panel covers are budget-friendly solutions that meet safety objectives.
Both measures can be applied to existing infrastructure, minimizing costs and disruption to the school day.
Broader Implications for School Safety
Protecting classroom glass and using vision panel covers are just parts of a comprehensive approach to school security. Additional measures include:
Controlled Access Points: Limiting and monitoring entryways to the building as well as improving fencing.
Emergency Operations Plans: Ensuring all staff and students know how to respond in various emergencies.
Training for Situational Awareness: Empowering teachers and staff to identify and respond to potential threats proactively.
Conclusion
The recommendations to protect classroom glass with shatter-resistant film and to use vision panel covers during lockdowns are grounded in real-world incidents and supported by safety experts.
These practical, economical steps can enhance security and reduce vulnerabilities.
By delaying forced entry, obstructing target visibility, and creating safe hiding areas, these measures can save lives in critical situations.
At Risk Strategy Group, we specialize in helping schools implement comprehensive safety measures, including the installation of shatter-resistant film and guidance on vision panel cover strategies.
Contact us today for a free consultation and learn how we can help protect your campus.
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