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Creating Safe Environments in Schools Through Websites

Creating Safe Environments -- in School and Through Secure Websites

Safety in schools is an important issue being tackled by families and districts around the country. Emergency situations and threats are becoming more frequent and there is a growing feeling among parents that schools are not save havens for their children anymore.

To create a safe environment that fosters learning and positive interactions between students and with staff members, districts must be able to identify areas of improvement and leverage currently available resources. This includes classroom procedures as well as processes completed by teachers and staff in each school. The safety and security of each student is paramount and building a website with a school website company allows a district to meet all of its objectives.

By taking all of this into account schools will be able to use their website and other technology for more than just providing calendars and contact numbers. Instead, a secure site coupled with a safe learning environment allows students to get the most out of their education. Physical and digital safety and security help students learn and give administrators the ability to stay in contact with authorities and families in the event of an emergency, should the need arise.
 
 
 
The Effect on Student Learning
Creating a safe environment on campus is essential for students and doing so impacts their ability to learn. Students are more apt to engage in the course material if they are in classroom settings that are free of distractions and welcoming. This can lead to more success in the classroom and also help improve interactions with other students outside of class. As Education World notes, “students need to feel safe in order to learn. They need to feel secure in order to want to participate.” What is a safe learning environment and how do you make students more comfortable while in class?
 
 
It starts by looking at what directly affects students each day. For instance, elementary school teachers may find that creating structure in class and teaching organizational skills helps students pay more attention during a lesson. In a high school, it could be making processes in the library more efficient so students are able to access information they need to complete assignments. In addition to these examples, students need to be able to have an environment where they feel valued and able to ask questions and express opinions. So how can a school ensure that its students feel comfortable and safe while in the classroom?

Open lines of communication are crucial. When teachers and administrators are able to actively and openly communicate with students and their families, expectations are clear. Class websites that allow educators to update homework assignments, provide resources and send messages to families gives students additional tools that they can use to their benefit. The effect this has on student learning is profound, as it can lead to more confidence and higher morale while also reducing disciplinary problems and making the school safer as a whole.
 
Secure Websites Protect Sensitive Information
On a school-wide level, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Creating and maintaining campus safety and security is one of the top priorities for every school in the country. A school’s website is its main outlet for communicating news and updates to the community, which includes students, parents and staff members.

In addition to posting academic calendars, registration materials and news releases, a school website gives students and parents access to grades, course information, event details and more. Since it is an integral part of any school’s overall communication strategy, a website needs to be completely secure in order to be effective.

As school districts and individual campuses continue to work with shrinking budgets, its website may not be a priority. When this is the case, districts may turn to an open-source platform that has lower – or no – upfront costs. However, this can expose the site to hackers because anyone will be able to see the site’s code and modify it without the district or school knowing.

It also means that sensitive information such as student records, passwords and financial documents can also be accessed by outside agents. Working with a school website company that customizes a site for a district’s unique needs is necessary in order to keep data secure. This will also lead to a safer learning environment and build trust with educators, students and families.
 
 
 
Addressing Safety Issues with Other Technology
When threats to campus safety take place, such as a lockdown or natural disaster, school officials rely on technology and websites to keep people informed. While some schools are making a point to install panic buttons in strategic locations throughout campus, the fact of the matter remains that schools need security and flexibility when emergencies arise. In addition to alerting police to an emergency that needs attention, individual campuses need to have the infrastructure in place to mobilize response teams and communicate with constituents off campus.

Panic buttons are limited to static locations but by leveraging the power of a secure website, content management system (CMS) and emergency notification platform schools can trigger necessary protocols from anywhere by using their mobile phone. This has an impact on the overall atmosphere at the school and its success. According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), schools that have comprehensive violence prevention and response plans in place achieve the following:
  • Improved academics
  • Reduced disciplinary referrals and suspensions
  • Improved school climate that is more conducive to learning
  • Better staff morale
  • More efficient use of human and financial resources
  • Enhanced safety
The result of having a secure school website is a safer environment on campus for students and staff. It also gives families peace of mind knowing that there are steps in place to get help as needed.
 
 
 
 The Benefits of Using eSchoolView
When working to create a safe environment for students and staff it is important for schools to work with experts in assisting schools with security needs. The CMS provided by eSchoolView helps schools and districts achieve this goal in two distinct ways. In addition to giving administrators and teachers the ability to enhance their educational methods, it also is equipped with an instant notification system for sending emergency alerts. It can integrate with the active directory to add another level of support and increase efficiency.

From a content management standpoint, teachers have the capability of publishing podcasts, surveys, videos and photos for their students in order to enhance the learning environment with eSchoolView. The system is easy to use and update so new content can be posted without lags that can detract from students receiving the information they need to be successful. The OneView platform brings all login information to one place so users find comfort in being able to stay connected and up-to-date on vital information without having to hunt down details.

Since more and more individuals, including students and parents, rely on their mobile devices for information, eSchoolView’s Mobile Suite fully integrates with its desktop CMS so people can remain informed no matter where they are. The eSchoolView KnowItAll app is included with the Mobile Suite and can be used by administration, staff, students and the community to get all of the information they need about a school, including a directory and events calendar.

The additional SchoolInfoApp solution gives districts and schools a more convenient and interactive way to share news and send notifications and emergency alerts. It provides everything you need to know in the palm of your hand so you are always able to find information, which also helps build trusting relationships with students and families.
 
In terms of campus safety and security, eSchoolView’s Instant Connect system keeps everyone on campus informed in the event of an emergency. With an emergency response team in place, your school is able to send emergency alerts and notifications to staff, students and parents. These features are available for any smartphone during crisis situations and schools and districts are able to take advantage of the platform at any level. The eSchoolView platform is affordable for educational organizations, including schools serving students in grades K-12, to help improve safety and emergency response while also creating an enhanced educational environment for all.

Working with a school website company gives schools and districts a two-pronged approach for creating safe environments – both in schools and through secure websites. Take steps now to bolster safety and give students and staff the resources to excel every day by improving the security and quality of technology used.