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Articles by Peter Smith
Why Are Students Missing School? 5% Say It’s for Safety Reasons
A report on absenteeism in Rhode Island schools found 5% of students have missed school due to safety reasons. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than 10% of school days in a year for any given reason. It dramatically increased during the pandemic and remains concerningly high throughout the U.S., affecting nearly 25% of all K-12 students. Although Rhode Island’s rates have decreased over the last few years, they remain above pre-pandemic rates.
School Shootings Down 30% Last Year: Omnilert Gun Violence Report
The number of school shootings decreased 30% from 2024 to 2025, according to a new report from artificial intelligence gun detection company Omnilert. The report, published Jan. 14, also determined the number of deaths and injuries in K-12 school shootings decreased 26% from 2024. Despite this improvement, 4,463 children and teens were killed or injured by gun violence in 2025. The report also shows mass shootings decreased 19% from 2024 and deaths from gun violence decreased by 5%.
Infant Formula Needs Evidence-Based Oversight. Will MAHA Step Up?
In 2017, a headline on a local TV news website asked a distressing question: “Are dangerous chemicals lurking in your baby food?” The associated broadcast, citing “an alarming study,” reported that 80 percent of infant formulas and several other popular baby food products had tested positive for arsenic, a toxic heavy metal. Such products had also tested positive for the heavy metals lead and cadmium.
Infant Formula Needs Evidence-Based Oversight. Will MAHA Step Up?
In 2017, a headline on a local TV news website asked a distressing question: “Are dangerous chemicals lurking in your baby food?” The associated broadcast, citing “an alarming study,” reported that 80 percent of infant formulas and several other popular baby food products had tested positive for arsenic, a toxic heavy metal. Such products had also tested positive for the heavy metals lead and cadmium.
Infant Formula Needs Evidence-Based Oversight. Will MAHA Step Up?
In 2017, a headline on a local TV news website asked a distressing question: “Are dangerous chemicals lurking in your baby food?” The associated broadcast, citing “an alarming study,” reported that 80 percent of infant formulas and several other popular baby food products had tested positive for arsenic, a toxic heavy metal. Such products had also tested positive for the heavy metals lead and cadmium.
Cities, Counties Increasingly Install Speed Cameras in School Zones
Cities and counties throughout the U.S. have increasingly installed speed cameras in school zones in recent months. According to a study from SafeKids.org, which observed 39,000 middle and high school students and 56,000 drives in school zones, one in four high school students and one in six middle school students were distracted when walking. The distracted teens were most likely to be wearing headphones (44%) or texting (31%).
Commercial Kitchen Ventilation: Optimising Performance, Safety and Energy Efficiency
In the demanding environment of commercial kitchens, effective ventilation isn't merely a convenience—it's essential for operational success, regulatory compliance, and staff wellbeing. A properly designed and maintained kitchen ventilation system removes heat, steam, smoke, grease, and cooking odours whilst maintaining air quality and comfortable working conditions.
Free Grant Consultations Coming to 2025 Campus Safety Conference
AUSTIN, Texas — Through countless discussions with SSI sister site Campus Safety, school and college leaders have shared their struggles of writing winning grant applications as many campuses do not have dedicated grant writers. Applying for grants is extremely time-consuming and involves multiple stages, including research, proposal writing and administrative tasks.
FSU Shooting Prompts Security Review of All Florida Campuses
State University System of Florida chancellor Ray Rodrigues recently announced campus leaders must conduct security reviews of all universities in the wake of the April 17 mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) that claimed the lives of two people and left six others injured, Rodrigues told the system’s Board of Governors that the reviews will largely focus on building access control and the ability to conduct a lockdown drill, CBS reports.
Students Damage School Laptops in TikTok Chromebook Challenge
School districts and law enforcement agencies are warning families about a dangerous TikTok trend where students purposely damage school-issued laptops. The trend, known as the “Chromebook Challenge,” involves students jamming objects into the USB port of the laptop, causing them to short-circuit or even catch fire, NBC News reports. Some incidents have led to charges being filed and schools being evacuated.
Texas School District Mulls Drones for Active Shooter Prevention
UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas — A Texas school district is considering integrating drones into its active shooter prevention plans. Campus Guardian Angels, an Austin-based startup, recently demonstrated its drone technology at a Highland Park ISD elementary school, Houston Public Media reports. The drones can navigate stairs and hallways, drop pepper spray or flashbangs, or collide with an attacker if necessary, says company CEO Justin Marston.
Securing Graduation Ceremonies: The Case for Weapons Detection
Graduation season is upon us and droves of people will descend upon educational campuses to celebrate the achievements of their loved ones. While it is a time for celebration, it is also a time that leaves campuses vulnerable to security threats – and that means more campuses are considering weapons detection systems. Over the years, more and more schools, particularly colleges and universities, have turned to technology to enhance their graduation safety and security plans.
Georgia Governor Signs Law Mandating Panic Buttons in Schools
ATLANTA — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp recently signed Senate Bill 268 into law, making the Peachtree State the eighth in the nation to pass Alyssa’s Law, a bill requiring panic buttons in all schools across the state. The new law, which unanimously passed the state Senate in March, will take effect on July 1. It requires both public and private schools to implement mobile panic alert systems, Online Athens reports. It would also provide first responders with digital mapping data of schools.
84% of K-12 Teachers Say School Safety Directly Impacts Student Achievement
A recent survey found the large majority of K-12 staff believe school safety has a direct impact on student achievement. CENTEGIX’s 2024 National Educator Survey Report surveyed 530 K-12 educators, school administrators, and district administrators on various school safety topics. It found 84% of respondents affirm school safety directly impacts student achievement and 83% feel their students are concerned for their safety while at school.
Rounding Up Some Recent K-12 School Safety and Security Upgrades
Schools across the United States are continuously evaluating their safety and security policies and procedures. Changes made to those policies and procedures are often influenced by school incidents, both those that directly and indirectly impact them. For some, that means enhancing security technology, such as doors and locks and video surveillance. For others, that means increased security personnel or investments in student well-being initiatives.
ADI/Snap One Opens Omaha Store Inspired by Modern Design
OMAHA, Neb. — ADI | Snap One recently added another store, with plans to open several more in the near future. The latest addition hosted a grand opening event for its new store showcasing product offerings from the combined business for the first time under one roof.
Will Alyssa’s Law Become Federal Legislation?
Following the 2018 mass shooting tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the family of victim Alyssa Alhadeff successfully fought to establish Alyssa’s Law, state-based legislation that mandates all public elementary and secondary school buildings be equipped with silent panic alarms that directly notify law enforcement of an incident. The legislation first became law in 2020 in New Jersey, Alyssa’s home state.
Protect Your Home with Hampton Roads Roof Cleaning & Washing Experts
When was the last time you looked up at your roof and considered what it’s facing every day? In Hampton Roads, the coastal climate brings intense sun, heavy humidity, and frequent storms—all of which take a toll on your roofing system. That’s where Top Stream Exterior, your local Hampton Roads Roof Cleaning & Washing Experts, steps in to protect your biggest investment: your home.
Miami VA Medical Center Elevators Injured At Least 12 in Two Years
MIAMI — Malfunctioning elevators at Miami’s veterans hospital have injured at least 12 people over two years, according to a report. A 2023 assessment obtained by the Miami Herald determined all of the elevators at the 12-story Bruce W.
ADI and Snap One Kick Off 30th Annual Expo Tour with ‘Even Better Together’ Messaging
The ADI Expo program enables participating suppliers to engage directly with dealer and integrator customers from across North America and showcase their latest product offerings, Cardazzi adds. ADI and Snap One provide educational seminars and CEU credits (where applicable) at each Expo, allowing suppliers to position themselves as thought leaders and influencers in the industry.
2025 Video Surveillance Predictions for Education and Healthcare Markets
According to Campus Safety’s 2024 Video Surveillance Survey, 98% of K-12 schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities have one or more video surveillance systems on their campus — up from 94% in 2023. The survey also found that of the participants whose campuses don’t have a security camera system on campus, half said they were considering purchasing one in the next two years. As the rapid adoption of these systems continues to grow, so do their capabilities.
2025 Weapons Detections Predictions: AI Will Shape the Future at Schools, Hospitals
Each year, Campus Safety conducts surveys on safety and security technologies commonly found on K-12, universities, and healthcare campuses. The data extracted from these surveys offers insights into how campuses are using these technologies and the challenges and successes they encounter along the way.
Protecting Student Privacy in the Age of Video Surveillance Monitoring at Schools
On April 7, U.S. House of Representatives member Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Senator Maria Cantwell released a draft of a bipartisan federal privacy bill, the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024, which protects, among other things, student privacy. The proposed bill aims to “put people in control of their own personal data” and “eliminate the patchwork of state laws by setting one national privacy standard.” If adopted, the APRA would supersede state privacy laws.
OliverIQ Adds Centrale D’Alarme De Bromont, First Canadian SHaaS Security Integrator
SANDY, Utah — Extending the reach of its Smart Home as a Service (SHaaS) platform across the northern border, OliverIQ announced that it has signed Centrale D’Alarme De Bromont as its first security provider partner in Canada. Headquartered in Bromont, Quebec, the company offers security services against break-ins, fires, floods, and more.
Monitoring Matters: Why It’s Crucial for PSAP Implementation to Continue
ASAP to PSAP is the alarm industry’s electronic platform on which a monitoring center can create an electronic message to law enforcement, the fire department or emergency medical services to request a call for service or dispatch. It is a national service intended to increase the efficiency and reliability of emergency services. The goal of this article is to get SSI readers up to speed and help them understand why this is important to the industry and to them.
FTC Ban on Non-Compete Agreements a Dead Issue After Texas Federal Judge’s Ruling
A Texas federal judge struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on non-compete agreements in employment contracts, holding that the ban violates the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeds the agency’s statutory authority. The ruling applies nationwide. The FTC’s ban had been set to take effect Sept. 4. I predicted that the FTC ban would never go into effect in several prior articles, which doesn’t make me a sage or fortune teller.
Legal Briefing: What Security Integrators Can Do About Challenges to Your Contracts
There may be good reason to walk away from a job, but a request to modify your Standard Form Agreement is not one of them — unless you have a “mass market” approach and don’t want to spend any time with a customer who wants to negotiate your “free install and $16 a month monitoring deal.” If you don’t use a K&K contract, then don’t bother calling me to discuss that contract or changes to it.
Monitoring Matters: Cash May Be King, but Data is Golden in the Security World
We hear a lot about data these days — and, actually, it can be overwhelming with what’s available to us. But that is in the aggregate. On the ground level, data is extremely valuable in our everyday lives as business owners. When I moved to Tennessee four-plus years ago, the local electrical co-op had the ability to transmit a variety of account-specific text messages.
The Illusion of Audio Glass Break Detection
Homes are commonly surrounded by fixed and sliding glass doors and windows. Against the foregoing backdrop, from a security system perspective, the alarm industry has always needed to pay attention to these vulnerable perimeter entry points into the home. For those of you who have been in the industry for decades, foil was the standard of care for perimeter glass break detection.
Nice North America Names Senthoor Navaratnam as New Chief Product Officer
CARLSBAD, Calif. — Global home and building management solutions provider Nice has filled an important position in its C-suite team with the appointment of Senthoor Navaratnam as the chief product officer for Nice North America. Navaratnam’s expertise in driving strategic growth across global markets is anticipated to be instrumental toward the company’s goal to deliver integrated and unified solutions to Nice partners and end users, it states.
Monitoring Matters: Alarm Industry Innovation Needed Now More Than Ever
When I started in the industry in the late ’70s, most new systems were digital dialers with keylocks or some other mechanical devices like a simplex lock. By the mid-’80s, various types of keypads started to emerge and become the norm. Some of these new keypads just triggered a relay that was connected to a keylock input, and some were just starting to get integrated into the control panel. Many of you might remember the 12-wire keypads back then.
Cancel/Abort Can Increase Risks to Unsuspecting Alarm System Subscribers
Do subscribers have a right to know how their alarm systems are monitored? Of course they do! The policies and procedures according to which a central station monitors a household burglar alarm system need to be disclosed to the subscriber by the alarm contractor. By way of example, think about a central station-monitored burglar alarm system that is activated in a home. The subscriber eventually wakes up and turns off her alarm system, believing it must be a false alarm.
Snap One Joins Resideo Technologies Family in $1.4B Blockbuster Acquisition
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., and CHARLOTTE — Snap One is typically the company making news for acquiring name brands to add to its expansive portfolio, but this time the company is on the other side of the table as the big name being acquired, according to a joint announcement.
The Dangers of Swinger Shutdown
When an alarm contractor designs and installs a burglar alarm system, they are providing these services for a specific purpose. First, a security survey should be conducted, which is an exhaustive search of all risks and vulnerabilities. Secondly, a needs analysis needs to be performed by the alarm contractor to ascertain the motivation of why the prospective customer wants to have an alarm system for their premises. Based upon the aforementioned findings, the system’s design should follow.
New Orleans School Bus Driver Evacuates Students Before Bus Explosion
A New Orleans school bus driver evacuated nine students from a bus last week right before it burst into flames. Kia Rousseve, a 28-year-old bus driver for Community Academies of New Orleans, was driving her usual route on March 13 when the vehicle started to lose power and smoke, Good Morning America reports. “The bus started acting crazy and started jerking and going real, real slow,” she recalled.
16 Female College Athletes Sue NCAA, U. Georgia System Over Transgender Policies
ATLANTA — More than a dozen current and former female college athletes filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the NCAA, alleging the organization violated their Title IX rights by allowing University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, to participate in the 2022 national championships.
School Hate Crimes Tripled in States with Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws
States that have passed legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights have seen a significant increase in bullying and hate crimes in schools, according to a Washington Post analysis of FBI data. The number of anti-LGBTQ+ school hate crimes reported nationwide to authorities more than doubled between 2015 to 2019 and 2021 to 2022. There were an average of 108 anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes at schools reported to the FBI per year from 2015 to 2019 on both college and K-12 campuses.
Father of Oxford School Shooter Found Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter
OXFORD, Mich. — Both parents of the teenager who shot and killed four classmates at Oxford High School in 2021 have now been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. A 12-person jury returned a unanimous verdict on Thursday, convicting the shooter’s father, 47-year-old James Crumbley, on four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Killed in the shooting were 17-year-old Madisyn Baldwin, 16-year-old Tate Myre, 14-year-old Hana St. Juliana, and 17-year-old Justin Shilling.
Rushville, Illinois: 3 Children, 2 Adults Killed in School Bus Crash
RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Five people, including three young children, died Monday morning when a school bus collided with a tractor-trailer carrying sand. Preliminary reports indicate the school bus was traveling east on Route 24 around 11:30 a.m. when the driver, 57-year-old Angela Spiker, crossed into the westbound lane “for unknown reasons” and collided with the truck, ABC 20 reports. Both vehicles became engulfed in flames. The bus was transporting the three children to school at the time of the crash.
College Mental Health: 59% of Students Have Anxiety, 43% Are Depressed
The vast majority of college students are struggling emotionally and 58% are facing declining mental and emotional health, according to a new report. The Student Mental Health Landscape, released on March 11 by research publisher Wiley, shows that post-pandemic, more than 80% of college students are struggling emotionally at least somewhat, with more than 25% reporting they are struggling significantly. Students are largely dealing with anxiety (59%), burnout (58%), and depression (43%).
Shooting Near Georgia State Raises Concerns Over Atlanta Gun Violence
ATLANTA, Ga. — A man was shot Saturday night near Georgia State University (GSU), eliciting concerns from students and residents over recent violence in the area. Atlanta Police were dispatched to 92 Piedmont Avenue, which is the address for GSU’s Piedmont Central on-campus student housing, and located the victim around 9:56 p.m., 11 Alive reports.
School Shooting Deaths Have Increased 500% in 53 Years
A newly released report shows the likelihood of children becoming school shooting victims has quadrupled from 1970 to 2022. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) on March 6, analyzed data from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS), which included 2,056 school shooting incidents involving 3,083 victims in a period ending in May 2022.
804 People Have Been Killed by Guns at U.S. Schools
More than 800 people have been killed by guns in American K-12 schools in the last 58 years, according to one analysis. The K-12 School Shooting Database, maintained by researcher David Riedman, found 804 victims have been killed and an additional 2,221 have been wounded in 2,699 incidents since 1966. These findings include every instance in which a gun was fired, brandished, or a bullet hit school property regardless of the number of victims.
New Uvalde Report Defends Local Police Response to Robb Elementary School Shooting
UVALDE, Texas — An independent report commissioned by Uvalde city leaders into the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting defended the action of Uvalde Police Department officers. Prior investigations into the mass shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers found a multitude of errors by responding officers from various law enforcement agencies.
Arming Teachers: Duval County Residents Share Concerns About Florida Guardian Program
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Parents and community members voiced concerns this week about arming Duval County Public Schools teachers as part of Florida’s Guardian Program. The Guardian Program, established following the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, allows Class D and G licensed security guards and volunteer school employees to carry guns in Florida public schools. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri spoke at a Feb.
2024 Campus Safety Conference Resource Center
The 2024 Campus Safety Conference, taking place July 8-10 in Atlanta, will unite safety and security leaders for K-12, higher education, and healthcare campuses to focus on intensive education, hands-on training, peer-to-peer networking, and product showcases over two-and-a-half days. Now in its 11th year, CSC allows attendees to meet face-to-face with their peers and share lessons learned and promising practices.
Ex-UC Santa Cruz Police Officer Awarded $7 Million in Racial Discrimination Suit
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — A jury ordered the University of California to pay $7 million in damages to a former UC Santa Cruz Police Department lieutenant who alleges he was fired because he is Black. A jury delivered a unanimous verdict in favor of Glenn Harper who sued the UC Regents in 2019, claiming his race “was a substantial motivating reason” for his 2017 firing, East Bay Times reports. The jury deliberated for three hours, concluding the university wrongfully and discriminately terminated Harper.
School Swatting Threats: How Common Are They and What Do They Cost Taxpayers?
Swatting is the act of reporting fake threats to emergency responders to elicit a large law enforcement response. Many industries have repeatedly fallen victim to these calls, including K-12 schools. These false threats not only suck up and divert precious resources but they leave room for real dangers. The day after the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a Florida police officer shot himself in the leg inside a school while responding to a false shooting report.
Nationwide Cell Phone Outage Highlights Need for Multiple Emergency Communications Systems
On Feb. 22, an AT&T network service outage left over 71,000 U.S. customers without calling or data capabilities for up to 12 hours. The outage is under investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who noted the outage left many unable to call 911. While looking over a petition urging the University of Georgia to install emergency call boxes, also referred to as blue light phones, following the on-campus murder of 22-year-old Laken Riley, one petitioner’s comment stood out to me.
UGA Pressured to Improve Security After Nursing Student Death
ATHENS, Ga. — Students and parents are urging University of Georgia (UGA) leaders to quickly implement security improvements following the on-campus murder of a nursing student. Police say 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student at nearby Augusta University and a UGA graduate, was killed Thursday while out for a run on the UGA campus. The suspected killer has been identified as 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra.
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