$100 Million Earmarked For Ohio School Safety And How Sunray® Can Help

Sunray® — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:52:31 +0000

Every day, parents send their children to school to advance their education and hope that they return home safely at day’s end. School safety is top of mind on every parent’s list, especially in a time when active shooter drills are often part of a child’s K–12 curriculum.

Schools need every available resource at their discretion to ensure that classes are conducted without interruption or fear. In July 2022, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission issued program guidelines that designated $100 million in federal funding for safety improvements in both public and chartered non-public schools.

If your school hasn’t taken advantage of this grant program yet, the following information will acquaint you with the process and give you an option that will improve vulnerable glass windows and doors inside and out.

Security Improvements for Eligible Schools

When considering ways to increase student safety in the event of a natural disaster or an active shooter scenario, eligible schools need to choose options that fit with their existing security program and also meet the established criteria under the ARPA School Security guidelines.

An eligible enhancement is defined as “a physical security enhancement, equipment, inspection and screening equipment, or other expenditure included on the Authorized Equipment List (AEL).” Upgrades to better protect students and faculty include everything from securing the building perimeter to making internal architectural modifications that strengthen and fortify classrooms as well as large gathering spaces, like cafeterias and gymnasiums.

Strong Interior Improvements Offer the Most Immediate Protection from an Internal Threat

Not all physical safeguards are obvious to the naked eye — or to would-be intruders. Glass surfaces, including interior windows, sidelites, curtain walls, door vision panels, and skylights, can be fortified with 8-mil 3M™ Ultra S800 film. This Safety and Security Film is designed to protect occupants from flying glass in the event of a bomb blast, explosion, weather-related incident, or projectile from an active shooter.

The 3M™ Ultra S800 film is anchored in place with 3M™ Impact Protection Attachment (IPA) Sealant. This combination preserves the integrity of the glass even when shattered and ensures fragments adhere to the film’s surface in an unanticipated situation. And if exterior double-paned windows also need to be fortified, 7-mil 3M™ Safety S70 (7mil) Exterior film is a smart choice.

Contact the Industry Experts at Sunray® to Make Your School Safer

Sunray® Window Films has been serving Northeast Ohio and the needs of its local educational facilities since 1994. Whether you’re applying for a grant today or planning ahead for the next school year, speak with a knowledgeable expert from Sunray® about adding Safety & Security Window Film to your to-do list. We’re happy to explain how these fortifying films enhance public safety.

Want to learn more about improving school safety? Check out these articles from our blog:

Contact Sunray® today via email at 800.295.8468.

The post $100 Million Earmarked For Ohio School Safety And How Sunray® Can Help first appeared on Sunray® Window Films & Installations.

The post $100 Million Earmarked For Ohio School Safety And How Sunray® Can Help appeared first on Sunray® Window Films & Installations.

School Safety: Two Tactics Plus One Immediate Improvement

Sunray® — Sat, 18 May 2019 11:36:21 +0000

As educators and administrators struggle to find new ways to keep students safe on school grounds, many approaches are being considered. Some schools have passed bills to arm teachers, while others are turning to alternative surveillance tools to head off a tragedy in advance.

Social Media Monitoring

Many school districts have turned to social media monitoring software as a way of identifying and preemptively stopping potential threats. These programs have been implemented by hundreds of school districts and universities in the hopes of not becoming the next campus to experience tragedy.

While some providers have boasted success, more often than not, the programs wrongly interpret social media posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram because they’re unable to discern the context of a post. For example, programs that flag the word “bomb” may mistakenly pinpoint innocent posts where the word is used to express excellence (i.e., that meal was the bomb).

“If You See Something, Say Something”

Ever since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, people have been reminded to be diligent about their surroundings and the activities of others. This approach is also advised in K-12 School Security: A Guide for Preventing and Protecting Against Gun Violence,” issued in 2018 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

According to the guide, “Effective preventative and protective actions decrease the probability that schools (or other facilities) will encounter incidents of gun violence or should an incident occur, it reduces the impact of that incident.” The DHS guide reminds administrators, teachers, and students to report suspicious behavior to law enforcement if the school doesn’t have a network in place to address these concerns directly.

Installing Physical Barriers Makes Everyone Safer

While these steps may or may not be the solution parents, students, and educators are seeking, it goes without saying that putting physical safeguards in place on school campuses will reduce or severely limit activities that would harm people. Reinforcing windows and glass doors by installing 3M^TM Safety & Security Window Film offers physical protection against armed attackers and even bomb blasts.

Sunray® Window Films has installed these innovative products throughout Northeast Ohio, including Willoughby-Eastlake city schools. The safety films deter intruders looking to make an easy entry as well as those who attempt to break through locked glass doors. To see these films in action, click here.

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If your school is interested in improving the physical barriers that protect students, faculty, and administrators, contact Sunray® Window Films today. Our knowledgeable team of industry experts will explain how these protective films work and will help you decide which product will best suit your needs.

Contact Sunray® today via email at 800.295.8468.

The post School Safety: Two Tactics Plus One Immediate Improvement first appeared on Sunray® Window Films & Installations.

The post School Safety: Two Tactics Plus One Immediate Improvement appeared first on Sunray® Window Films & Installations.

Shatter Film For Schools Archives – Sunray® Window Films & Installations

$100 Million Earmarked For Ohio School Safety And How Sunray® Can Help

Security Improvements for Eligible Schools

Strong Interior Improvements Offer the Most Immediate Protection from an Internal Threat

Contact the Industry Experts at Sunray® to Make Your School Safer

School Safety: Two Tactics Plus One Immediate Improvement