Rethinking Security for K–12 After-School Events

Challenges of Securing After-School Events

Athletic events are fundamentally different from a regular school day. They involve large crowds, open access points and, in many cases, outside vendors such as food trucks. This, along with the fact that stadiums and gyms are often physically separate from the main campus, makes monitoring and security coordination more difficult. For example, multiple points of entry, outdated fencing, and even limited lighting around fields and parking lots can all increase the potential for unauthorized access and security blind spots.

Many schools also lack formal emergency action plans (EAPs) for after-hours events. Incidents like fights, weather emergencies or medical crises can easily overwhelm staff members who are unprepared or unsure about chains of command. Emergency planning for athletic events requires the same rigor as planning for day-to-day safety drills, including clearly defined roles for staff, communication protocols, and rehearsed procedures for reunification or evacuation.

Applying a Layered Approach to After-School Safety

Improving security at athletic events and other after-school gatherings doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. The planning, policies and technologies that work during the day can be adapted and extended to after-hours activities.

1. Emergency Planning and Staff Coordination

Who directs an evacuation during an after-hours event? What is the reunification strategy? How are students and families kept updated? What is the chain of command for medical emergencies? Are first responders looped into communications? These are the types of questions that written EAPs for after-school events should answer.

Pre-event briefings and assigned roles help ensure staff understand responsibilities, while protocols can inform the types of tools needed to execute those plans without a hitch. For example, fully charged two-way radios or integrated communication platforms must be designated as the proper channels for staff and law enforcement to coordinate instantly. 

2. Policies for Crowd and Visitor Management

After-hours events should have consistent check-in procedures and supervision ratios, or the number of event staff per attendee. The goal is to ensure visitors are accounted for and staff are trained to identify unsafe behavior. 

Policies must address scenarios ranging from noncustodial parents attempting unauthorized contact with students to alcohol or contraband at events. Clear, consistently enforced policies reduce risk and relieve staff from making high-pressure decisions alone.

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3. Using Technology To Extend Awareness and Response

Technology is a force multiplier for protecting school grounds, both during the day and during extracurricular events. At a minimum, high-resolution video cameras should be positioned around school perimeters. These require proper connectivity infrastructure and lighting to get a clear image. 

License plate recognition, AI-driven weapon or intrusion detection, and even face recognition systems can also be used to alert staff to potential threats during an event. Digital access control systems, meanwhile, can help ensure that only authorized personnel can enter restricted areas, while automated alerts for unusual activity or doors left open reduce the reliance on human observation. These tools are not meant to replace trained personnel. Rather, they provide situational awareness and faster response capabilities.

It’s also worth noting that digital tools aren’t the only ones at play. Up-to-date, reliable, two-way radio systems that can facilitate coordination with first responders remain essential. During an emergency situation, cell bandwidth can rapidly overload, and that’s when radio communications can provide a lifeline. 

DIVE DEEPER: These technologies and tools are enhancing school safety.

4. Cultivating a Culture of Awareness

Even the best systems fail without a culture that promotes awareness and proactive reporting. Posting signs that read, “See something, say something,” is not enough. Students, staff, families and other bystanders need clearly defined reporting channels that help them respond before incidents escalate. The onus is on the organizers and the school to communicate expectations for spectator behavior and empower students to act safely if they notice a problem.

Integrated communication systems are also vital, and not just in the form of radios connecting staff, law enforcement and first responders. Mass notification systems can help keep families informed. Whether it’s a medical emergency, a structural failure or a security breach, rapid communication is essential for a safe and orderly response. Technology paired with training ensures that staff know how to act and whom to contact in real time.

Extending School Safety Beyond the Classroom

Athletic facilities and other gathering points on school grounds are central to school culture, but they can also be points of vulnerability if not managed carefully. By applying the same principles of safety planning, supervision and technology used during the school day, districts can create safer environments for students, staff and the broader community. 

Every investment in planning, staffing and technology pays dividends in both peace of mind and overall student well-being. When communities can trust that events are secure, students, staff and families can focus on what really matters: celebrating achievement, building connections and strengthening school pride.

This article is part of the ConnectIT: Bridging the Gap Between Education and Technology series.