By Kathleen Duffy Bruder

It is difficult to believe that a few pieces of black construction paper, taped over the window of a classroom door, saved the lives of a room full of children in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

Kathleen Duffy Bruder (contributed photo)

In that horrifying 2012 tragedy in Connecticut, security professionals believe the shooter assumed that the classroom was empty because he couldn't see inside, past that dark construction paper.

That "paper" defense highlights several tenets of school safety: While each tragedy is different, common elements exist, and schools can make even the simplest modifications to protect children.

Other common-sense safety measures that impeded the shooter included locked doors, a call to 911 and quick response, hiding in place and fleeing at the right time.

The situation also demonstrates that though schools can install the most high-tech, multi-million-dollar security system, if the staff is not trained to use it, cameras are not monitored and danger is ignored from within and without, the chilling reality is that our kids are at risk.

It also shows the commonwealth's schools' personnel and students need proper and repeated training as well as effective coordination for improved security measures.

To help keep Pennsylvania's students safe, Senate president pro tempore Joe Scarnati successfully pushed for increased school safety funding and in June, lawmakers passed Act 44 of 2018, which provides $60 million in safety grants for the current school year.

The grants were announced in early September with a deadline of midnight on Oct. 12 to apply for up to $6 million in funding. Facing a tight deadline, schools are scrambling to gather information and submit their applications to the newly created School Safety and Security Committee at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

But the committee is allowing schools to revise their applications following initial reviews - that means to get the full amount available to protect students, school officials will have additional time to put together comprehensive safety plans.

The application process

After the Parkland school shooting in February, Pennsylvania's elected leaders focused on giving schools more tools to "harden" their buildings' physical safety and soften their approach to children in crisis.

Under Act 44, every school district that applies for the grants is expected to receive at least $25,000 under the first, "meritorious,'' section of the application. All school entities (including districts, intermediate units, area vo-techs, charter schools or private resident rehabilitative institutions) can also receive up to $5.975 million under the second, "competitive'' section.

The committee this month plans to send schools a safety and security survey and then initially review the applications starting November 30. After that first review, schools will have a period - not yet announced - to revise their applications before the committee scores the submissions and awards funding.

When applying for these grants, districts are urged to take a comprehensive approach that includes three key components: 1) staff, student and policy training, 2) effective help for students with behavioral challenges and 3) physical assessments of building vulnerabilities.

That means using the money to focus on both the use of school-wide positive behavioral supports and increase counseling services to help children undergoing trauma, as well as identifying weaknesses in security and developing safety plans that include a mix of equipment and training.

Districts must act now

Hiring a qualified school security consultant is a critical first step for school officials that will provide invaluable help in responding to the committee's safety survey in developing the best grant application - and security plan - possible.

The right consultant is not necessarily the person who has a law enforcement background. It is a business with specially trained personnel and the certifications and track record experience in performing physical security assessments and identifying vulnerabilities. Your consultant should also be able to train your teachers and administrators and work with mental health professionals and other members of your security and administrative teams.

Centuries ago, the Roman orator Cicero said the first law of the land is safety. That statement holds true today and is the rationale behind Act 44.

Especially in an environment where weapons are deadlier than ever and mental health issues darken the lives of so many young people, these grants, and the security they will buy, can't come soon enough.

Kathleen Duffy Bruder is a member of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC's Government Relations Group and is well-versed in the requirements of the School Safety and Security Grant Program under Act 44 of 2018. Readers may email her at kbruder@mcneeslaw.com.