In an age of increasing ideological tension, targeted violence, and complex risks, faith-based schools—especially those operating across multiple campuses—face a unique and urgent security challenge.

Your threat surface is broader than you think. It’s not just about doors and gates. It includes your people, your policies, your public presence, your digital footprint—and the very identity that makes your school community special.

If you’re in a leadership position at a Christian, Jewish, or other faith-based school, now is the time to take your security posture from reactive to resilient. That starts with clearly defining, evaluating, and constantly updating your threat surface.

What Is a Threat Surface?

Your threat surface is the sum of all the vulnerabilities that an attacker—whether a common criminal, an ideological extremist, or a politically motivated actor—could exploit.

In a faith-based school setting, in addition to, the “student with a gun in his backpack,” these threats may include:

• Physical vulnerabilities: Open campus designs, unlocked entrances during services or events, limited visitor screening.

• Human vulnerabilities: Unvetted volunteers, part-time staff, guest speakers, or substitute teachers without background checks.

• Operational vulnerabilities: Gaps in communication between campuses, inconsistent emergency procedures, lack of standardized training.

• Digital vulnerabilities: Weak cybersecurity, exposed livestreams, lack of monitoring on social media mentions.

• Ideological or religious vulnerabilities: Your faith identity can make your institution a target for extremists, terrorists, or politically motivated bad actors.

Threat Categories for Faith-Based Schools

To manage your threat surface, start by defining the types of threats you’re facing. Common categories include:

• External Violent Threats: Active shooters, terrorists, anti-religious extremists

• Internal Threats: Students or staff with behavioral red flags or mental health issues

• Cyber Threats: Hacking, phishing attacks, doxxing, ransomware

• Event-Based Threats: Large gatherings, religious services, field trips

• Reputational Threats: Misinformation, media scrutiny, online harassment

Step 1: Conduct a Threat Surface Audit

Use these guiding questions across each campus:

• Who can access our property—and when?

• Where are the physical chokepoints and blind spots?

• Do our arrival/dismissal procedures create exposure?

• Who has access to internal systems, cameras, or student data?

• Are all staff trained equally on emergency protocols?

• How would we respond if an extremist targeted our faith identity?

This process requires honest observation and interdepartmental cooperation. Bring in security professionals and law enforcement if possible, and include staff from facilities, IT, and administration.

Step 2: Use a Simple Threat Matrix to Prioritize

A threat matrix helps you organize and prioritize what to handle now, and what to monitor.

Tip: Assign a team or leader to review and update this matrix quarterly.

Step 3: Build Aligned Response Plans and Training

Once your key threats are identified and prioritized, develop specific, realistic response strategies. This includes:

• Emergency plans for all campuses that are consistent but customizable to site layout

• Training for teachers and staff on threat recognition, reporting, and lockdown procedures

• Scenario-based drills that reflect likely incidents: armed intruder during worship, hostile protest, coordinated cyber attack, etc.

• Partnerships with local law enforcement and first responders for faster, coordinated response

Your training must reflect the real threats your community faces—not just the ones that check boxes.

Gold Standard School Security Isn’t a Product—It’s a Process

True safety isn’t something you install. It’s something you build—and maintain—over time. Especially in faith-based environments, where your mission is built on openness and trust, security must be intentional, flexible, and values-aligned.

You can’t protect what you haven’t defined. Start by mapping your threat surface, prioritizing your vulnerabilities, and committing to a culture of ongoing evaluation and training.

Next Step: Build Your Own Threat Matrix

Use the example above as a guide. Create a version for each campus. Review it with your leadership team, and update it every semester.

Need help building out your matrix or designing custom training scenarios for your staff?

Let’s connect. Our team specializes in helping faith-based schools create practical, mission-focused security strategies that work.

In today’s environment, school security is a top priority for educators, administrators, and parents alike. While most schools are proactive in conducting lockdown drills, installing security cameras, and training staff in emergency procedures, there’s often an overlooked aspect: the proper sizing of tourniquets in Stop the Bleed kits, especially for younger students.

Stop the Bleed Training: Crucial but Often Incomplete

Stop the Bleed training has become increasingly common across schools nationwide. This program teaches teachers, staff, and even older students how to manage severe bleeding effectively until professional medical help arrives. While this training significantly boosts a school’s preparedness, it sometimes misses a crucial point: standard-size tourniquets may not work effectively on young children in elementary or preschool settings.

One Size Does NOT Fit All

Standard tourniquets typically found in bleeding control kits are designed primarily for adults and older children. However, these tourniquets may fail to adequately compress the smaller limbs of younger children, potentially making them ineffective in a critical situation.

The Importance of Pediatric Tourniquets

Pediatric-sized tourniquets are specifically engineered to accommodate smaller limbs, ensuring that bleeding control measures are both safe and effective. The phrase “Two is one, one is none” highlights redundancy’s importance in emergency preparedness, but there’s a crucial twist: “Two is none if you don’t have the right size.” Without the right tools, even the best-prepared individuals may find themselves unable to manage an emergency effectively.

Auditing Your Emergency Kits

Every school and childcare facility should regularly audit their emergency response equipment to ensure all necessary sizes and types of medical supplies, including pediatric tourniquets, are readily available. Emergency kits must reflect the actual demographics of the student population—particularly critical for preschools and elementary schools.

Recommendations for Enhanced School Safety

1. Regular Training: Conduct frequent Stop the Bleed training sessions, explicitly highlighting pediatric care needs.

2. Pediatric-Specific Supplies: Stock bleeding control kits with pediatric-sized tourniquets and pressure dressings suitable for smaller limbs.

3. Routine Audits: Perform regular reviews of emergency kits to maintain and update supplies accordingly.

4. Expert Consultation: Engage school security experts or medical professionals to guide your preparedness strategies and ensure comprehensive coverage.

Conclusion: Prioritize Comprehensive Safety

Taking school security seriously means looking at all angles of potential emergencies. Ensuring you have the correct equipment, including pediatric-specific tourniquets, can mean the difference between life and death. Let’s commit to safeguarding every student by preparing thoroughly and thoughtfully.

By prioritizing the inclusion of pediatric-sized tourniquets, schools can significantly enhance their emergency response capabilities, ensuring no student is left vulnerable.

Introduction: Why Near Miss Reporting is the Missing Link in School Security

When we talk about gold standard school security, we often focus on emergency response plans, lockdown drills, and physical security measures. While these are essential, there’s a critical component that many schools overlook—near miss reporting.

Near miss reporting is a proactive strategy used in high-risk industries like aviation and healthcare. It involves tracking incidents that could have led to harm but didn’t—providing schools with an opportunity to identify security weaknesses before they escalate into real threats.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how near miss reporting strengthens school security, how to implement it effectively, and why it’s an essential practice for any school striving for gold standard safety.

What is Near Miss Reporting?

A near miss is an event or situation that, had circumstances been slightly different, could have led to harm. In the context of school security, this could include:

• A student noticing an exterior door left unlocked after school hours.

• A visitor bypassing check-in but being stopped by staff before reaching classrooms.

• A fight almost breaking out, but a teacher intervening just in time.

• A suspicious individual loitering near the school but leaving before security could engage.

Each of these scenarios represents an opportunity to learn, adjust, and improve school security before an actual crisis occurs.

Why Near Miss Reporting is Critical for School Security

1. Identifies Security Gaps Before a Crisis Happens

Near miss reporting helps schools spot vulnerabilities before they’re exploited. If a door is frequently left unlocked or a visitor enters without a badge, it signals a breakdown in security protocols. Addressing these issues proactively prevents major security breaches.

2. Shifts Security from Reactive to Proactive

Most school security strategies focus on reacting to incidents—lockdowns, evacuations, or law enforcement responses. But the gold standard approach is preventative. By analyzing near misses, schools can adjust policies and training to prevent incidents before they happen.

3. Creates a Culture of Awareness and Vigilance

Encouraging students, teachers, and staff to report near misses fosters a culture of security awareness. When everyone in the school community takes ownership of safety, threats are detected and reported earlier—reducing the likelihood of security failures.

4. Enhances Training and Preparedness

Real-world examples are powerful teaching tools. Using near misses in staff training allows security teams to simulate scenarios that almost happened, preparing staff for what to look for and how to respond effectively.

How to Implement a Near Miss Reporting System in Schools

1. Establish a Simple Reporting Process

A near miss reporting system should be easy, accessible, and non-punitive. Schools can implement:

• Anonymous reporting forms (online or paper-based).

• A mobile app or text-based system for quick submissions.

• A dedicated email or phone hotline for staff and students to report concerns.

2. Encourage Reporting Without Fear of Blame

People are often hesitant to report near misses because they fear getting themselves or others in trouble. Schools must create a no-blame culture, emphasizing that near miss reporting is about improvement, not punishment.

3. Analyze and Track Patterns

Security teams should regularly review reports to identify patterns. For example, if multiple reports mention unsecured doors in the gym, it signals a need to reinforce lockup procedures.

Key questions to ask when analyzing near misses:

• What almost happened?

• What prevented the incident from escalating?

• What policy or procedure needs improvement?

• How can staff be trained to prevent this in the future?

4. Take Action and Close the Loop

A near miss report is useless if it’s ignored. Schools must:

• Address vulnerabilities quickly (e.g., fix broken locks, update visitor protocols).

• Train staff on findings (e.g., improve supervision during dismissal).

• Communicate outcomes to reinforce the importance of near miss reporting.

Examples of Near Miss Reporting in School Security

Case Study 1: The Propped Open Door

A middle school teacher noticed that a rear door was frequently propped open during lunch to allow fresh air into the cafeteria. While no incident occurred, the security team identified it as a major risk for unauthorized entry. As a result, they:

• Installed automatic door closers to prevent propping.

• Trained staff on why unsecured doors pose a threat.

• Increased security patrols during lunch periods.

Case Study 2: The Suspicious Visitor

A front desk staff member observed an individual attempting to enter the school without checking in. Although the visitor eventually left, security reviewed footage and discovered:

• The school lacked clear visitor check-in procedures.

• Staff needed better training on engaging unauthorized visitors.

• A new “Challenge and Escort” protocol was implemented, ensuring all visitors were properly screened.

Why Near Miss Reporting is the Gold Standard for School Security

Gold standard security isn’t just about having protocols—it’s about continuously improving them. Schools that implement near miss reporting elevate their security posture from passive protection to active prevention.

By learning from close calls, schools can:

✅ Identify and fix vulnerabilities before a crisis.

✅ Foster a proactive security culture.

✅ Strengthen staff training with real-world scenarios.

✅ Build a safer, more resilient learning environment.

Final Thought: Does Your School Have a Near Miss Reporting System?

If your school isn’t tracking near misses, you’re missing a crucial opportunity to improve security. Near miss reporting is a proven strategy in high-risk industries, and schools should adopt it as part of their gold standard security framework.

What steps can your school take today to start implementing near miss reporting? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments.