What is the role of a threat assessment team in school safety?

Threat assessment teams bring together school administrators, counselors, law enforcement, and security professionals to evaluate potential risks before they escalate. They use structured protocols to identify students or situations that may pose a danger and coordinate an appropriate response. This proactive approach is considered a best practice in modern K-12 and higher education security.

How are AI and analytics being used to improve school security?

AI-powered video analytics can detect unusual behavior, unauthorized access, or potential weapons in real time, alerting staff and security teams faster than traditional monitoring. These tools help schools manage large campus environments more efficiently and reduce response times during incidents. Analytics also provide data-driven insights that support long-term safety planning.

Why is access control important in educational environments?

Access control systems restrict entry to authorized individuals and create audit trails that help administrators understand who is on campus at any given time. When integrated with visitor management and identity verification tools, they form a layered defense against unauthorized access. Building a culture where staff and students consistently follow access protocols is equally critical to the technology itself.

Securing Our Schools: Threat Assessments, A...

Securing Our Schools: Threat Assessments, Access Control, and Analytics

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Michelle Dawn Mooney speaks with Genetec's Bruce Canal about building comprehensive safety ecosystems in K-12 and higher education environments. They explore the formation of threat assessment teams, the role of AI and video analytics in school security, and how access control systems contribute to a stronger campus safety culture.

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By Michelle Dawn Mooney · March 26, 2024, 9:00 AM UTCBruce CanalGenetecRaptor TechnologiesSchool Safety Today

Key takeaways

Threat assessment teams are a foundational component of proactive school safety strategy

AI and video analytics are increasingly used to identify risks and improve situational awareness on campuses

Access control systems and a strong security culture work together to prevent and respond to threats in educational settings

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, Michelle Dawn Mooney sat down with Bruce Canal, Executive Lead for K-12 / Higher Education at Genetec, Inc. During the conversation, they focused on several critical aspects of enhancing safety in educational environments, including threat Assessments, access Control, and analytics.

Key Takeaways:

The formation and importance of Threat Assessment teams
The role of analytics and AI in school safety
The significance of access control and school security culture

About the Speakers

Bruce A. Canal, CPP, has been in the school security environment for over 25 years, most of which as an end user. He is the Executive Lead for K-12 / Higher Education at Genetec, Inc. In this capacity, he is responsible for developing and driving business strategy for the education vertical, driving brand awareness, and cultivating partnership and end-user relationships. As a subject matter expert in education, he is involved in many education-related initiatives. Bruce is the former director of physical security for the 8th largest school district in the United States, Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, FL. His first career was serving as an officer for the Indiana State Police before accepting his first school director assignment. He is accredited by ASIS International as a Certified Protection Professional and is an active member of the "School Safety and Security" community. Bruce also sits on the ASIS Foundation Scholarship Committee, is a technology committee member of the Partnership Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS K-12), sits on the board of Zero Now for higher education, and is an active member of the National School Resource Officers Association. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.