As students question the safety and security of their school in wake of school violence, Gables educators and safety officials overcome the challenges of creating a safe learning environment. New technologies and strategies are implemented while the effectiveness of former approaches are questioned. Whether it is student identification cards or increased security, Gables addresses the underlying threat of school violence.
This school year, US school shootings have climbed to over 50 and are projected to reach a record high. The Apalachee High School Shooting, the deadliest one this year, displayed the effectiveness of newly implemented panic alarm systems, that alerted police at the push of a button, ending the violence within minutes. Lowering response time of law enforcement during crisis situations saves lives, justifying the implementation of staff panic buttons at Gables.
“I’ve always felt safe at Gables, and I trust the security staff here. But the open campus and variety of entrances can worry me; panic alarm systems are cheap and effective, and I would be in support of it at Gables,” Mr. Miller said.
Gables currently employs two armed-security guards who protect school entrances throughout the day. Gables plans on increasing school security and an officer-in-training is already being coached on campus. Campus golf carts give security fast transportation throughout the large campus, aiding them to address issues promptly.
“I trust the security guards at our school, and I see them at the entrances every morning. The more people dedicated to keeping the campus secure, the safer students like me feel,” sophomore Jossnell Ochoa said.
Student identification cards are another method of school security that helps staff identify people who don’t belong in the school. Aside from uniforms, student and staff ID’s are the only way of ensuring that people on campus are meant to be there. School security only allows verified parents and visitors to enter the campus with guest IDs and they keep school entrances either closed-off or secured.
“I’ve grown accustomed to wearing my student ID and to a certain extent I think it’s a good safety measure, but far from sufficient. I think security guards should survey the campus and its entrances, ensuring that students can be identified,” senior Felipe Escobar said.
A safety measure Broward County Public Schools has implemented is their innovative metal detectors. Implemented in the 2024-2025 school year, Broward added metal detectors to all high school entrances. Students who pass through it every morning show their school ID and remove metal items, preventing the alarm of the detector from activating. This enhances school safety and provides security for students by confiscating weapons and other dangerous items.
However, many Broward students believe these new metal detectors are ineffective and time consuming. The detectors have sensitive scanners, anything from belt buckles to spirals on notebooks set the alarms off, causing increased delays. Funneling students through one entrance and thoroughly checking through their items causes extremely long lines and delays, resulting in students getting to class late.
“I think that metal detectors cause more chaos than there already is, making students late to class constantly. While they might stop some items from entering the school, I don’t think they will deter school violence. In my opinion, background checks and increased gun control will save more lives,” senior Andrea Rotondaro said.
As Miami Dade County Public Schools considers new approaches to school security, Gables emphasizes its community effort to tackle the ongoing problem. With student input and staff dedication, the Gables campus becomes a safer learning environment, where both students and educators can thrive.
