Fentress Blog

As part of recent demands to “defund the police,” some have argued that school resource officers (SROs) should not have a place in our nation’s schools. Some school districts, including those in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Denver, and Portland, OR, have recently cut ties with the police. Is this a...

I was recently part of an assessment team for a newly constructed elementary school. The design reflected modern trends emphasizing transparency, openness, creativity, and collaboration in education. Reflecting back on the elementary school I attended (50 years ago!), I was struck by the...

School parking lots can be a source of security concerns, including safety issues for those driving and walking in the lot, the occurrence of illicit activities in the lot, and the potential of the lot being used as a staging area for an active shooter. For these reasons and many more, security...

By Mike Jones (Major Consulting and Design, LLC) and Keith Fentress

We recently performed a security assessment at a high school, arriving at the school about two hours after the start of classes. Although school was in full session, a quick drive through the student parking lot revealed several...

By Keith Fentress and Mike Jones (Major Security Consulting and Design, LLC)

In performing a recent school security assessment, we sat down with the principal to chat, which is a routine part of our process. As we conversed about security needs, threat assessments, and related topics, we noticed...