Jan 15

Written by: Bret Rachlin
1/15/2010 3:42 PM

Thieves stole nine flat-screen televisions, television production equipment and an undisclosed amount of money from Johnson Middle School in Melbourne, Florida, on New Year’s Eve (Source: Florida Today, January 11, 2010, School slowly returns to normal). Additionally, they vandalized the school, breaking windows to access classrooms and destroying musical instruments such as cellos. Overall, the break-in “resulted in more than $30,000 in damaged and stolen school property.”

There are two main issues concerning this crime that warrant attention. First, the school did not have video surveillance. While video surveillance may not have deterred the perpetrators and prevented the incident, it likely would assist police in catching the thieves. Since most of the school’s students understandably were upset and concerned because of the break-in, capturing the vandals would help improve overall student morale and may lead to some type of restitution.

Second, it appears that the school did not enhance its security upon its purchase of expensive technology and equipment. Schools no longer have only blackboards, chalk and erasers. Many schools have advanced interactive white boards that amplify the teaching and learning process. When schools upgrade their technology it’s critical that they also upgrade their security practices. While budgeting for security technology, such as video surveillance, access control and intrusion alarms, is important, schools also can use free solutions to protect property by locking expensive equipment in rooms that are much harder to access for would-be thieves and vandals.

Overall, schools benefit if they conduct comprehensive security assessments each time they purchase new technology and/or new equipment, including musical instruments that are costly. A good security assessment helps schools take the new equipment into account, showing them that they need to increase their security programs to protect the new property.

Does your school budget for security increases when you buy new technology and equipment? How are you securing your expensive teaching tools?

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