Students' and staff's perceptions of school safety and security in a suburban Ohio high school: A case study

This qualitative study compared students' and staff's perceptions of safety and security in a suburban Ohio high school. Students and staff in this study had recently moved into a new high school with a video surveillance system and a computerized, keyless door lock system. This study sought to learn if these security devices had an effect on how safe students and staff felt in their new high school.;A preliminary written survey was administered to all students in the junior class in the spring to collect baseline data. These data were analyzed over the summer and early fall. Three student focus group sessions and two staff focus group sessions were conducted during the following winter. Many questions probed in the focus group sessions came from the analysis of the preliminary student survey.;The data for this study revealed that students in this high school had a number of misconceptions about the purposes and capabilities of the new security system. Students see the security system as a solution for a problem that does not exist. Staff members have done little to alter this misunderstanding largely because their knowledge of the security system is as limited as the students'. Left to their own assumptions, students perceive that the security system's only purpose is to catch them breaking school rules.;This high school building is making limited and passive use of this new security system. Visitors can make their way into the main entrance of this building almost undetected. The surveillance system has the capability of screening visitors and only permitting entry of authorized guests. This feature of the system is not currently being used.;Bullying is a problem in this school. A large number of students are negatively affected by bullying which takes a toll academically and in terms of the quality of life for students in this school.;Student and staff focus group participants seemed genuinely appreciative of the opportunity to discuss a topic in which they were keenly interested in. An open and ongoing dialogue on this and other topics of mutual interest between students, staff, and administrators could be healthy.