Campus safety conversations often focus on visible risks, yet one of the most fragile points sits quietly in the background.

Many institutions struggle to maintain clear and reliable health documentation for students and staff. That gap might sound administrative, but it becomes a real threat when responders need information that simply isn’t there or isn’t correct. A missing allergy note, an outdated record on a chronic condition, or incomplete mental health history can slow decisions at the exact moment time matters most.

Why School Health Records Shape Emergency Response

Emergency teams rely on accurate health data to determine care paths, staffing needs, and whether outside support must be pulled in. A responder trying to sort through conflicting or outdated information loses minutes they won’t get back. Some cases require specialized handling, as in respiratory crises that fall under pulmonary medicine, or behavioral events where medication histories guide safe intervention.

RELATED ARTICLE: 12 School Emergency Strategies that Protect Students with Disabilities

When the documentation is scattered or inconsistent, responders work without a foundation. The risk doesn’t always appear dramatic on the surface, but the underlying uncertainty magnifies every misstep.

How Gaps Disrupt Crisis Coordination

A campus incident rarely involves just one department. Security, medical staff, administrators, and outside agencies often need to act in sequence. Those groups can only coordinate when everyone is working from the same information set.

Poorly maintained records create uneven pockets of knowledge, and people start relying on guesswork or verbal updates. A missing note on a student’s seizure triggers, or outdated contact information for a staff member with severe allergies, can redirect resources at the wrong moment. Confusion spreads through the response chain, and decisions become reactive instead of planned.

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Where Documentation Breaks Down

Most campuses don’t fail out of neglect. They face practical barriers. Systems don’t communicate. Intake forms vary widely between departments. Some health offices still manage sensitive information on paper files that haven’t been digitized. Even when digital systems exist, inconsistent data entry leads to mismatched formats and missing details. Mental health histories may be siloed from general health files. Athletic departments may track injuries separately. Even administrative workflows, such as healthcare billing and insurance verification, may rely on separate platforms that don’t integrate with clinical documentation. The fragmentation creates blind spots no one intended, but everyone inherits during a crisis.

Why Standardization Protects Safety

Clear documentation procedures bring structure to information that campuses currently collect in uneven ways. Standardized forms, secure digital storage, and consistent update schedules prevent important data from drifting into gaps. When responders can pull accurate details instantly, the entire emergency framework becomes stronger. It’s easier to flag a student whose medication interactions matter during treatment. It’s easier to determine whether a staff member’s medical history suggests specialized support. The documentation doesn’t replace clinical judgment, but it sharpens it.

How Better Data Supports Resource Allocation

During a large-scale event, leadership needs to position supplies, personnel, and communication tools where they’ll have the most impact. If they don’t know the distribution of chronic conditions on campus, or how many individuals have life-threatening allergies, they can’t plan effectively. Health records provide the baseline for these choices.

RELATED ARTICLE: Tabletop Exercise: Student Goes Into Anaphylactic Shock

Poor documentation often leads to over-allocating in some areas and leaving others unprepared. Strong data brings a calmer, more strategic tone to decision-making, which helps keep the broader response organized.

The Role of Training and Compliance

Accurate documentation isn’t just a technical process. It’s also a matter of routine practice. Staff need training that emphasizes how to collect information correctly, how often it should be updated, and who has the authority to make changes. Compliance frameworks help ensure the work continues even when the semester gets busy. When training is inconsistent, people improvise, and the data slowly loses precision. Over time, those small lapses grow into a structural weakness.

Moving Toward Secure, Reliable Systems

A modern campus requires health documentation that’s easy to access securely and easy to interpret under pressure. Building that system involves technology, policy, and regular maintenance. It means reducing duplication, integrating departments that rarely coordinated before, and reviewing protocols every year. The investment pays off by reducing uncertainty for responders and offering a clearer picture of the community they’re trying to protect.

Campuses that treat health documentation as a core safety tool, rather than a background task, strengthen their entire emergency response framework. Improving these systems supports faster decisions, smoother coordination, and better protection for the people who depend on them.

Andrew Bonner is Director of Marketing at Specialdocs Consultants. Bonner has over 15 years of marketing experience in the healthcare industry.

The post How Poor School Health Record Documentation Endangers Campus Safety appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

A surge in electric scooter injuries in recent years has prompted many K-12 schools and colleges to implement bans or significant restrictions on micromobility products.

Injuries associated with all micromobility devices -- including e-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards -- increased nearly 21% from 2022 to 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) report, Micromobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries, and Hazard Patterns. From 2017 to 2022, e-scooter injuries rose from 8,566 to 56,847. Children 14 years and younger also accounted for about 36% of micromobility injuries from 2017 to 2022 despite only making up 18% of the U.S. population.

More recently, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) found e-scooter injuries rose from just under 30,000 in 2020 to 118,485 in 2024 -- nearly twice the 2023 total of 64,329.

[caption id="attachment_176620" align="alignright" width="428"] Graphic created by eridehero using data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission[/caption]

Emergency departments across the United States have also documented significant increases in e-scooter–related hospital visits. According to a study from the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the annual cost of e-scooter and e-bike hospitalizations rising nearly five times over between 2016 and 2020 -- from 6.6 million to 35.5 million -- according to a study from the American College of Surgeons.

CPSC's report says there were an estimated 360,800 emergency department visits related to all micromobility devices from 2017 to 2022. Of those visits, 169,300 (47%) were linked to scooters. The researchers also registered 233 micromobility-related deaths during that time frame, with nearly half (111) from e-scooter incidents, most commonly as a result of collisions with cars and/or control issues.

The increase in injuries coincides with the rise in e-scooter ridership, with the global e-scooter market valued at $48.9 billion in 2025. Personal e-scooter sales are growing with approximately 42 million units sold globally in 2024.

In the U.S., data from National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) shows shared scooter ridership was up to 65 million in 2023, with the market reaching an estimated $751 million in 2025. In 2024, 130 cities offered shared scooter services, and about 8% of Americans said they had a private e-scooter available in their household, according to Statista.

E-Scooters Riskier Than E-Bikes, Research Shows

According to ACS' findings, e-scooters are riskier than e-bikes. E-scooter injuries rose by 80% from 2020 to 2024, from 29,344 to 115,713.

Compared to bicycle-related injuries, scooter-related injuries more often require surgical management and are associated with greater risks of long bone fractures and paralysis. Hospitalizations for scooter-related injuries increased by nearly three-fold from 2016 to 2020, and more than half of those injured patients underwent major operations.

Compared with patients with bicycle-related injuries, patients with scooter-related injuries more often underwent major surgeries (55.8% vs. 48.1%), in particular orthoplastic procedures and operations on the head. Additionally, data from CPSC found that 20,960 (18.42%) of all e-scooter injuries in 2024 were head injuries, and 67.7% happened to males.

Other studies have shown that e-scooter riders are less likely to wear helmets and more likely to drink alcohol before driving compared to other forms of micromobility. One study of shared micromobility program riders in San Francisco showed less than 2% of injured e-scooter riders were wearing helmets.

Children Experiencing Higher Proportion of E-Scooter Injuries

Compared to bicycle injuries, patients who sustained injuries related to scooters were more likely to be under the age of 18 (26.7% vs. 16.4%), according to ACS' findings.

The number of children under 14 injured by e-scooters doubled from 8,159 in 2020 to 17,641 in 2024. The proportion of all e-scooter injuries happening to children also rise from 12.69% to 15.26%.

RELATED ARTICLE: Top 10 Risks Facing K-12 Schools

Broken down further, the data shows the following:

• Injuries among those under 6 rose 2.39 times
• Injuries among those under 11 rose 2.95 times
• Injuries among those under 15 rose 4.85 times

Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician, told CBC that some parents who have gifted their children e-scooters don't realize that they can go from zero to 40 km/h in seconds.

"“From an emotional and cognitive perspective — where you just have the ability to understand where your body is in space, how you can make turns, what's far ahead and what's not — [it is] similar to driving a car," he said.

Drinking and Riding E-Scooters

Of 115,713 e-scooter injuries in 2024, 2.17% (2,515) involved recreational drugs and 7.52% (8,699) involved alcohol. A study from North Dakota State University found that compared with adults under 40, children ages 10 to 17 had 7.5 times greater odds of emergency department visits that involved drinking.

Alex Engel, a spokesperson for NACTO, told Yahoo that most of the e-scooter injuries are sustained by riders, who are vulnerable to potholes or small objects on the road.

“With e-scooters, the center of gravity is much higher because you’re standing on them, and because the wheels are much smaller and there’s in general much less shock (absorption), pavement quality tends to matter a lot more than it does for bikes or e-bikes," he said.

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Which Schools Have Banned Electric Scooters?

While the list is expected to rapidly grow in the coming months, here are some schools that have already limited or banned the use of e-scooters and/or e-bikes on their campuses.

1. Shrewsbury (Mass.) Public Schools Bans E-Bikes, Scooters

Shrewsbury Public Schools Superintendent Joe Sawyer announced late last year that e-bikes and scooters would be prohibited on all school campuses starting Nov. 6, according to Community Advocate.

“Over the course of this fall, we have experienced several situations where students riding motorized e-bikes have been involved in unsafe situations that endangered both those riding and others,” Sawyer wrote in an email to school families. “I, along with other school leaders, have become increasingly concerned about the potential for serious injury or worse due to e-bikes’ speed, difficulty for drivers to see and avoid them, and heightened risk of accidents to riders, pedestrians, and vehicles.”

Sawyer says he consulted with the Shrewsbury Police Department before making his decision.

2. Menlo Park (Calif.) City School District Restricts E-Bikes, Scooters

In Dec. 2025, Menlo Park City School District announced a new policy prohibiting students under 16 from bringing e-bikes capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour or operating without pedaling onto school campuses.

The initiative aligns with similar measures taken by Marin County, which passed an ordinance in March barring minors from using throttle-powered e-bikes in unincorporated areas. The ordinance also mandates helmet use for all Class 2 e-bike riders, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.

Which Colleges Have Banned Electric Scooters?

Below are some college and university campuses that have fully banned e-bikes and e-scooters.

Yeshiva University

Yeshiva University, which has four campuses throughout New York City, was an early adopter of an e-bike and e-scooter ban, adopting a policy in Aug. 2023. The decision was made due to the threat of fire from lithium-ion batteries in these devices, which led to at least 14 deaths that year, YU Commentator reported. There were also 19 deaths associated with fires between Jan. 1, 2021, and Nov. 28, 2022, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The policy was developed by the university's security, risk, legal, and human resources departments in conjunction with the Office of Student Life. It applies to faculty, students, staff, and visitors but allows for case-to-case exemptions for research of accessibility purposes.

New York University (NYU) and Columbia University, also in NYC, have similar policies in place.

University of Illinois Chicago

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) was also an early adopter of an e-bike policy. Approved by the school in Dec. 2020, the policy "prohibits the use of e-scooters and other low-speed, motorized personal transportation devices on university premises and in university facilities."

The policy does not apply to wheelchairs or ADA-related mobility aids. Students are allowed to use their personal transportation devices to get to and from campus but they "must be docked at designated parking locations when on campus."

Which Colleges Have Restrictions on E-Bikes, E-Scooters?

Many colleges and universities have issued partial bans or restrictions on micromobility devices. Some allow e-bikes but not e-scooters, and others simply restrict storing or charging the devices inside campus buildings. Here are some examples.

Boston College

Boston College banned electric scooters, electric skateboards, and hoverboards starting in Dec. 2022. The policy specifically prohibits the use, storage, and charging of electric scooters and similar electric transportation devices on all BC property.

However, electric bicycles can still be used on campus provided that users follow all applicable traffic regulations, do not bring their e-bikes into any BC facility, and secure them in outdoor bike racks.

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame banned personal electric vehicles (PEVs), including e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards, from campus in late 2023.

Campus community members who commute to the school using an e-bike may continue to do so as long as they operate the bike in traditional, pedal-only mode, without any electric assistance, while on campus. Those bikes must also be registered with campus police and must clearly display a registration tag.

The school's policy also prohibits the charging of e-bikes on campus.

Robert Morris University

Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh banned electric scooters, hoverboards, and Segways from RMU properties beginning Oct. 2025. The school says the devices cannot legally be operated on public roads and sidewalks, citing Pennsylvania law.

E-bikes or other devices with "documented need" are still permitted on campus. However, they cannot be stored or charged in university facilities.

Princeton University

Effective Jan. 25, 2024, personal electric vehicles, electric scooters, and other electric micro-mobility devices, such as hoverboards and electric and motorized skateboards, were prohibited to be used, stored, parked, or charged on the Princeton University campus.

RELATED ARTICLE: Improving College E-Bike Safety: What Admins Can Do

E-bikes are permitted but must follow New Jersey laws, which require e-bikes be registered with Transportation and Parking Services, among other things.

Other campuses with restrictions include:

• • Columbia University
  • Fordham University
  • Georgetown University
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • University of Maryland
  • Villanova University
  • Virginia Tech

Creating E-Scooter Policies for Your Campus

School leaders play a critical role in shaping safety policies that protect students, staff, and visitors. Creating effective safety policies requires thoughtful and intentional planning, balancing the need for security with maintaining a welcoming, supportive school environment.

A 2025 survey of college campus leaders, conducted by UL Standards & Engagement (ULSE) and the League of American Bicyclists, found 70% of campuses report safety concerns around e-bikes and e-scooters. However, only 9% have developed comprehensive policies.

Administrators must act now to balance access to this efficient mode of transportation with proper safety measures," Anna Schnerre, Senior Quantitative Insights Analyst at ULSE, told Campus Safety. "By prioritizing the development of robust policies for the safe use of e-bikes and e-scooters, enhancing e-mobility infrastructure, and improving student education, administrators can create a safer transportation experience on campus."

For campuses considering limiting or banning e-scooters or other micromobility devices, United Educators (UE), which provides liability insurance and risk management services to U.S. schools and colleges, recommends the following policy considerations:

• Require properly fitted helmets, reducing the potential for serious injuries or fatalities
• Identify scooter-free zones through proper signage and continued communication
• Ban scooters from campus buildings as the battery may create a fire and explosion hazard, particularly while charging
• Encourage safe charging practices, such as only using the supplied charger and never leaving the device unattended while charging
• Establish a speed limit
• Ban use for people under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Limit riding in dangerous conditions, such as severe weather or after dark
• Create parking guidelines, such as prohibiting parking in pedestrian pathways, in vehicle parking spaces, or on lawns
• Establish sanctions for policy violations, such as temporarily confiscating scooters parked in prohibited locations
• Work with legal counsel to understand local laws regulating e-scooter use; some jurisdictions ban e-scooters on roads

For campuses that partner with e-scooter sharing companies, UE's recommendations for creating those contracts can be found here.

The post Surge in Electric Scooter Accidents Spurs School Bans appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

ATLANTA, Ga. -- In an unexpected turn of events at a Division II college basketball game on Saturday, Tuskegee University coach Benjy Taylor was escorted off the court in handcuffs following a confrontation with a security officer.

The incident occurred during the post-game handshake line after Tuskegee's loss to Morehouse College, raising questions about security protocols and the treatment of coaches during athletic events.

Tuskegee Coach Incident Details: Handcuffing and Security Confrontation Explained

Video footage obtained by HBCU Gameday shows Coach Taylor being led away in handcuffs.

Related Article: University of Georgia’s Unsung Heroes: The Unseen Force Behind Game Day Safety

The situation began when Taylor confronted a security officer regarding Morehouse football players' presence in the handshake line, which was against protocol and he perceived as a potential security threat, reports USA Today. Taylor's frustration was evident, but the video does not show any physical aggression towards the officer.

Taylor later expressed his dismay to The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, stating, “I am at a loss for words and I am upset about how I was violated and treated today. For my players, my family and people of Tuskegee to witness that is heartbreaking for me.”

Security Breach and Conflicting Reports in Tuskegee Coach Incident

Tuskegee athletic director Reginald Ruffin provided further insight, describing the incident as a "security breach" after a group of Morehouse football players intermingled with the basketball teams, reports Yahoo Sports. According to Ruffin, Taylor's actions were reasonable as he requested the removal of the football players from the handshake line. However, the security officer perceived Taylor as "very aggressive" and cited this as the reason for the handcuffing.

Ruffin contested the officer's account, insisting that Taylor's demeanor was not as portrayed.

Legal Actions and Tuskegee University's Official Response

Following the incident, Taylor has retained national civil rights attorney Harry Daniels to explore potential legal action. Daniels emphasized that Taylor's intentions were to ensure the safety of his players against aggressive behavior from Morehouse's football team members.

Tuskegee President Dr. Mark A. Brown issued a statement in strong support of Taylor, asserting, "During the events in question, Coach Taylor acted solely out of his fundamental responsibility to protect his student-athletes and staff," reports Hoop Dirt.

Related Article: 7 Steps to Improving Stadium Security and Large Event Safety

Brown criticized the handling of the situation, deeming it inconsistent with standard collegiate athletic protocols.

The post Tuskegee Coach Handcuffed in Controversial Incident at College Basketball Game appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

SEATTLE -- Two Seattle Public Schools (SPS) students were shot and killed at a bus stop Friday afternoon.

The shooting occurred in front of the South Shore PreK-8 School and several blocks from Rainier Beach High School, which both victims attended, KOMO News reports. The shooting occurred just 30 minutes after both schools' dismissals. When Seattle Police arrived on the scene, they found two young men suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers administered first aid before the Seattle Fire Department arrived. Both victims were pronounced deceased at the scene.

RELATED ARTICLE: School Shootings Decreased 30% Last Year

While no one has been arrested in connection to the killings, police say the shooting was targeted and that they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public. All activities at Rainier Beach High School, Alan T. Sugiyama High School, and South Shore PreK-8 were canceled for the remainder of the evening and throughout the weekend.

The district encourages anyone with information related to the shooting to contact the Seattle Police Department (SPD) tip line at 206-233-5000. Tips can be made anonymously.

Seattle Public Schools Delays Classes at Rainier Beach Schools

SPS announced it is working with SPD and city officials to "increase presence and patrols in the area" for the week. Four campuses in the Rainier Beach community will also have a delayed opening Monday in response to the shooting, according to The Seattle Times. South Shore PK-8 will have a two-hour delay "to allow time for staff wellness supports” and to prepare “to welcome students with care,” SPS wrote in a news release Sunday. Rainier Beach High, Sugiyama High, and Interagency Academy Southeast will start classes at 12:30 p.m.

All of the delays are to provide “wellness and stabilization supports for staff and preparation to welcome students,” the district said. Individual and group crisis counseling and mental health experts will also be at school sites to help students and staff.

Superintendent Ben Shuldiner, who began his term on Sunday, "has been clear that strengthening safety measures across the district is a top priority, and that work begins immediately," the school district said.

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Community Advocate Calls for Police Back in Seattle Public Schools

More than 100 people gathered at a vigil Saturday, including the victims' mothers, to honor the teens and call for an end to violence in the city. King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans, City Councilmembers Eddie Lin and Dionne Foster, and then-SPS Superintendent Fred Podesta were also in attendance.

During the vigil, community advocate Victoria Beach called for the return of police in Seattle schools, suggesting it could prevent future violence, ABC 8 reports.

"We have to do whatever it takes to take them safe, I don’t care what it is," she said.

RELATED ARTICLE: Seattle Students Rally for More School Mental Health Counselors, Gun Safety

The Seattle School Board voted in June 2020 to remove SPD officers from Seattle Public Schools amid nationwide protests over police violence following the murder of George Floyd. The board instead adopted an indefinite moratorium on the district's School Resource Officer and School Emphasis Officer programs.

In October, the board also voted 5-2 to reject a proposal to place an SPD officer, known as a "School Engagement Officer," at Garfield High School following the 2024 murder of student Amarr Murphy-Paine in the school's parking lot. Murphy-Paine was attempting to break up a fight when he was shot and killed.

The post Rainier Beach: 2 Seattle Public Schools Students Fatally Shot at Bus Stop appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

ARTICLE UPDATE FEBRUARY 2, 2026:

As winter weather continues to sweep across the United States, numerous school districts are adjusting their schedules in response to snow and icy conditions. With safety as a top priority, schools in Maryland, Georgia, Indiana, Pittsburgh, and Western North Carolina are taking various measures to ensure the well-being of their students and staff.

Maryland Implements Delays

In Maryland, snow has caused several school districts to delay their start times, reports WMAR. Anne Arundel County Public Schools and Howard County Public Schools are both experiencing two-hour delays on Monday and Tuesday. Baltimore City Public Schools cautioned that yellow bus services might face delays on Monday due to snow and icy road conditions, especially on smaller side streets. Meanwhile, Baltimore County and Caroline County Public Schools will also open two hours late on Monday.

Georgia Opts for Virtual Learning

In north Georgia, the decision to keep students off the roads has led several districts to close schools on Monday, reports WSBTV. These include Banks County Schools, Clarke County School District, and Habersham County Schools, among others. In contrast, other districts such as Buford City Schools and Forsyth County Schools will hold classes virtually. Notably, Atlanta Public Schools have chosen not to alter their schedules.

Indiana Faces Closures and Delays

Indiana schools are also grappling with the adverse weather. The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) has announced a closure, opting for synchronous learning through live virtual instruction, reports the Courier & Press. Numerous other institutions, including Warrick County Schools and Evansville Christian School, are implementing two-hour delays. Additionally, Henderson County and Webster County Schools are closed.

Pittsburgh and Western North Carolina Adjustments

Pittsburgh is experiencing a cold spell, prompting several school districts to issue two-hour delays on Monday. Similarly, in Western North Carolina, a mix of school closures and remote learning days has been announced, reports WXII. Guilford County Schools and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools are among those closed, while others like Mount Airy City Schools will transition to remote learning.

ORIGINAL JANUARY 28, 2026 ARTICLE:

Heavy snow, ice, near-zero temperatures, and power outages have forced widespread school closures and delays across the United States.

Severe winter weather has pummeled much of the country the past week, stretching from the Southern Plains through the Midwest and into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Sub-zero temperatures and a polar vortex have kept cold air in place, particularly across the Eastern U.S., with cities like New York experiencing prolonged freezes not seen in years, the New York Post reports.

RELATED ARTICLE: Severe Weather: More Than Just a Seasonal Threat

Nearly 200 million Americans are under some form of winter cold warning at least through Feb. 1, and at least least 38 people have died across more than a dozen states due to storm-related conditions, according to Reuters. Ten of the deaths were in New York City, where the temperatures were the coldest they had been in eight years.

Forecasters are also watching for another possible winter storm to impact the eastern U.S. this weekend.

NYC Schools Go Remote

Due to significant snow totals, all New York City Public School buildings were closed Monday, with student instruction continuing remotely. With enough notice of the impending storm, city leaders were able to plan for the potential of a remote learning day.

"Over the past week, schools worked to confirm that students have the tools needed to participate in remote learning, and NYCPS coordinated with vendors to stress-test login systems across digital platforms and a range of scenarios," the city wrote in a press release Sunday. "Schools are prepared to address technology issues if they arise."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said while 500,000 students were scheduled for school Monday as grades six through 12 were already observing a previously scheduled professional development day, the city school system saw 400,000 virtual log-ons, ABC reports.

United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew praised Mamdani for his first snow day since becoming mayor.

"Mayor Mamdani gets an A for his first snow day. He led by example," said Mulgrew. "I want to thank our students, educators, administrators, and families. We all came together to make the remote day as engaging and as smooth as possible. The one glitch seemed to be Google. They had the same notice as our students, parents, and teachers, so they need to do better."

All schools reopened for in-person instruction Tuesday.

Greater Cincinnati Schools: City Under Cold Weather Advisory

Some schools in the Greater Cincinnati area remain closed due to a cold weather advisory in effect until noon on Jan. 28. Overnight lows near or below zero are expected the rest of the week, and the city saw a record-breaking level of snowfall on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Cincinnati Public Schools announced Tuesday that it would be closed Wednesday due to snow and ice, marking the third day in a row the region's largest district has closed, according to The Enquirer.

Other schools that announced closures for Wednesday include Boone County Schools, Middletown City Schools, Hamilton City Schools, and Covington Independent Public Schools. A full list of closures can be found here.

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D.C.-Area Schools Offer Meals

In Washington, D.C., school closures and delays continued into Wednesday after a weekend storm brought snow and significant ice to the region.

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced D.C. Public Schools would remain closed Wednesday as the city continues to dig out from the storm. Government buildings reopened at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Montgomery County Public Schools announced Tuesday that all campuses would remain closed Wednesday and Thursday. Emergency food distribution sites were set up at nine of its schools Wednesday, with meals available to children 18 and under and to people over 18 who have a disability, according to the district's website.

MCPS officials said district families and staff can expect news about Friday's status by 4 p.m. on Thursday.

"We are watching the weather and know that extreme cold temperatures will continue through the remainder of the week and that there may be additional snow over the weekend. We strongly recommend that families plan for the potential for an extended closure," the district said. "We will update you about make-up days as soon as we have a fuller picture of the impact as a result of this week's weather event."

Other D.C.-area school districts announced emergency meal distribution sites, including Fairfax County Public Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools.

North Texas School Districts Enter Third Snow Day

Many North Texas school districts, including Dallas ISD and Forth Worth ISD, remained closed Wednesday due to ongoing cold and icy conditions. A freezing fog advisory was also issued in North Texas through 11 a.m. CST on Wednesday.

Mansfield, Lewisville, Little Elm, and Denton ISDs also announced closures for Wednesday, WFAA reports. A complete list of closed North Texas schools, daycares, churches, and businesses can be found here.

RELATED ARTICLE: How Pepperdine University Protects Its Campus from Wildfires

On Jan. 20, Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency response resources ahead of the winter weather threat. Two days later, he issued a disaster declaration for 134 counties. On Sunday, Abbott expanded the disaster declaration to include more than 200 counties.

Texas officials say the state has deployed more than 10,900 responders and more than 4,900 vehicles and pieces of equipment to help those affected by the storm.

Nashville Schools Closed Through Thursday

In Nashville, Tenn., an estimated 135,000 homes and businesses remain without power following a historic ice storm. The temperature was expected to drop to six degrees Fahrenheit by Wednesday morning with below-zero wind chills.

Metro Nashville Public Schools, Williamson County Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, and several other districts announced they would remain closed through Thursday, The Tennessean reports. Some districts also announced weeklong-closures, including Houston County Schools, Lewis County Schools, Macon County Schools, and Perry County Schools.

Memphis-based Fox 13 announced every public school district in its viewing area would be closed again Wednesday, noting 19 districts aren't set to reopen until at least Monday, including six in Tennessee and 13 in North Mississippi.

The post Snowy Conditions Continue to Disrupt School Schedules Across Multiple States appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

Keeping students safe is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of school leadership. Families expect secure learning environments; educators need visibility and faster response times; and school boards face growing pressure to demonstrate meaningful action. As a result, K–12 districts are accelerating investments in AI-enabled, IP-based video surveillance.

But many are discovering a hard truth: the greatest cost, risk, and disruption isn’t the cameras — it’s the network infrastructure required to support them.

Why IP Surveillance Has Become the Standard

IP-based cameras have largely replaced analog systems because they enable real-time alerts, faster investigations, and seamless integration with access control and emergency systems. National data shows that most public schools already use security cameras, and adoption continues to grow as safety remains a top priority.

From a technology perspective, the path forward is clear: IP-based, software-driven security is the future. From a budgeting standpoint, however, the challenge is far more complex.

The Hidden Cost of “Rip and Replace”

Traditional network design assumes every new IP camera requires new Ethernet cabling, additional IDF closets, more PoE switches, and added power and cooling infrastructure. In older school buildings, this often means ceiling and hallway construction, electrical upgrades, and long deployment timelines.

Industry benchmarks show that infrastructure costs alone typically range from $1,500 to $4,000 per camera, before the camera itself is purchased. According to data from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), districts often underestimate these expenses by focusing on device pricing rather than Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which includes cabling, switching, facilities, and long-term maintenance.

At scale, the financial impact grows quickly:

• A district deploying 500 cameras may spend $1.25 million on infrastructure alone
• Large districts deploying thousands of cameras can incur tens of millions of dollars in network costs

In many cases, network costs exceed the cost of the security equipment itself, a reality that often surprises decision-makers once projects reach the construction phase.

Why This Is a Leadership Issue

District leaders already face competing priorities: staffing shortages, aging facilities, academic outcomes, and student well-being. Every dollar spent on network construction is a dollar not invested in teachers, learning tools, or student support services.

Organizations like CoSN consistently emphasize the importance of evaluating technology through a Total Cost of Ownership and Value of Investment (VOI) lens. Doing so helps districts avoid unintended financial consequences and make more sustainable long-term decisions.

Rethinking the Network: Modern LAN Principles

To address these challenges, many districts are rethinking how networks are designed. Modern LAN approaches focus on:

• Leveraging existing infrastructure where possible
• Reducing network layers and IDF closets
• Eliminating unnecessary switching, power, and cooling
• Lowering cost, risk, and operational complexity

What This Looks Like in Practice

Advances in Power over Ethernet (PoE) now enable IP cameras and other security devices to operate over existing coaxial or legacy cabling already present in many schools. Districts report:

• Faster deployments with minimal construction
• Dramatically lower infrastructure costs
• Reduced strain on IT and facilities teams
• More funding available for instructional priorities

These outcomes align directly with CoSN’s TCO and VOI frameworks, helping districts maximize value while improving safety.

Comparing Two Paths to IP Security

A Call for Informed Leadership

School safety is non-negotiable, but how schools achieve it matters. This is an opportunity for education leaders to challenge outdated assumptions, make informed decisions, and redirect millions of dollars from unnecessary infrastructure into classrooms and student success.

That’s not just a technology decision; it’s a leadership decision.

The post Safer Schools Shouldn’t Come at the Expense of Classrooms appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

ANTWERP, BELGIUM – A major cyberattack on AZ Monica hospital led to the shutdown of all servers, the cancellation of scheduled procedures, and the transfer of critical patients on January 13.

The attack forced the hospital, which operates campuses in Antwerp and Deurne, to disconnect its servers at 6:32 AM as a precautionary measure.

Cyberattack Response and Emergency Measures Implemented at Belgian Hospital

The cyberattack compelled AZ Monica to suspend all scheduled procedures, with 70 surgeries being cancelled. The emergency department continued to operate, albeit at reduced capacity, as emergency medical services and intensive care transport units remained offline, reports Bleeping Computer. Ambulances were partially diverted to nearby hospitals to manage the situation.

Related Article: Ransomware Attack Leads to Hospital Patient Death

Seven patients in need of critical care were transferred to other hospitals with the assistance of the Red Cross. Although most patients remained at AZ Monica, the registration process for new patients was slowed significantly as staff resorted to manual paper records.

According to the hospital's latest update, the investigation into the cyberattack has not revealed any evidence of leaked or misused patient data. Some IT systems have been restored, and approximately 70% of planned surgical procedures and scheduled consultations have resumed, reports Cyber News. However, several departments are still operating below full capacity.

Cyberattack Impact on Staff and Hospital Operations Disruption

Despite progress in resolving the situation, the IT systems of the human resources department remain down, affecting the salary payments of about 1,200 doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. Hospital officials have assured staff members will receive partial compensation for their work, with full payment expected to resume this month.

Individual solutions will be sought for staff who worked less than average in December.

Related Article: Ransomware Attack Shuts Down 14 Ohio Medical Centers

The incident highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks on healthcare facilities, emphasizing the necessity for robust cybersecurity measures. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says more than nearly 500 breaches were reported in the U.S. last year, although fewer people were impacted in 2025 compared to 2024, reports Chief Healthcare Executive.

The post Cyberattack Forces Hospital to Cancel Procedures, Transfer Patients and Not Pay Staff appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

Campus security often depends on layers of planning that work together, yet many buildings still carry design choices that quietly weaken that system. These details look harmless during construction, and they often stay unnoticed once the campus is busy with daily activity.

When something goes wrong, however, those small oversights can slow a response, reduce visibility, or create gaps in access control that no one intended.

Understanding how these hidden weak points form helps decision-makers see the campus environment with clearer eyes. 

1. Sightlines That Don't Support Observation

A building’s sightlines shape how easily staff can see what’s happening in public spaces. Long interior corridors that bend too sharply, or outdoor walkways tucked behind outbuildings, give people places to move without being observed. Security teams try to compensate with patrols, but design has the stronger influence. When architects mix decorative elements with practical functions, the aesthetic often wins, and visibility suffers even though no one planned it that way.

RELATED ARTICLE: How Security Fences Make Schools Safer from the Curb to the Classroom

Glazed walls, courtyards, and narrow stair cores can also work against the needs of responders trying to scan an area quickly. A responder might step into a hallway and lose visual control simply because of the angle of a wall or the placement of a service door. Over time, those blind zones turn into habitual gathering spots. Students and visitors rarely see the risk, but anyone responsible for campus safety eventually recognizes how these spaces complicate supervision.

2. Door Hardware That Falls Short of Standards

Many older campus buildings use door hardware that never met modern security standards. Latches loosen, frames warp slightly, and hinges wear down. None of those issues appear serious by themselves. Combined, they turn a supposedly secure door into something that can be forced open with surprisingly little effort. Campuses with mixed-age buildings often have different hardware types in each wing, which makes consistent maintenance difficult.

Another problem appears when renovations reuse existing hardware that was never meant for higher-security spaces. A science building or lab might inherit classroom doors from a general-use facility. Suddenly a room that must control access stores sensitive materials with hardware that wasn’t chosen for the task. Staff may not notice until an audit highlights the inconsistency.

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3. Window and Access Control Systems That Don’t Age Well

Windows often slide into the background of security planning even though they’re common entry points. Aging frames, brittle glazing, and locks that don’t align leave vulnerabilities that aren’t obvious until someone tests them. Security film helps, but only when it’s maintained. Many campuses install it once and assume it lasts indefinitely.

Electronic access control systems create another layer of quiet risk. These systems evolve rapidly, and older platforms rarely integrate smoothly with newer ones. If a campus hangs onto outdated controllers, card readers, or software, the gaps tend to widen over time. Lost or outdated credentials stay active longer than they should. Door schedules don’t match current staffing. Simple configuration errors accumulate until no one is completely sure which rules the system is enforcing.

4. Venting and Air Quality Issues That Create Hidden Risk

Venting and indoor air quality are rarely treated as part of campus security planning, but they can influence how safely people use a space. Poor ventilation can increase discomfort, reduce visibility if humidity causes condensation on windows, and lead staff to prop open doors to “get some air moving,” which weakens access control.

RELATED ARTICLE: 4 Ways to Prioritize Student Mental and Physical Health Through School Design

In technical learning environments, ventilation problems can become even more serious. Labs, workshops, and other spaces supporting technical education solutions often require consistent airflow to manage odors, fumes, and airborne particles. When systems are outdated or improperly balanced, the result is a space that feels unsafe or unusable, and workarounds become routine. Over time, those routine workarounds can quietly create access gaps and reduce the overall reliability of a building’s security plan.

5. Building Layouts That Slow Emergency Response

The layout of a facility affects security more than people expect. Some campuses grew in stages, and the buildings reflect those phases. Hallways join at odd angles. Stairwells open into unexpected corners. Mechanical rooms interrupt predictable paths. Anyone who knows the campus well can navigate it, but first responders often face delays because the layout doesn’t guide them naturally.

Clear movement paths matter during evacuations too. When students encounter confusing intersections or dead ends, groups tend to cluster in areas that weren’t meant to hold crowds. A design that seemed harmless on paper turns stressful in an urgent moment. Even small errors, like mislabeled wings or unclear color-coding, can slow the flow of people who need quick direction.

Where Integration Changes the Outcome

A strong security posture develops when design, maintenance, and ongoing evaluation intersect. If architects, facility managers, security teams, and first responders share information early in the planning stages, many of these hidden weak points can be reduced before construction begins. Even on established campuses, regular reviews help staff spot issues that slowly grew into problems.

Lighting, landscaping, hardware standards, and digital access control systems all influence each other. When one part falls behind, the rest of the system strains to compensate. Treating security as an integrated discipline rather than a final checklist gives decision-makers a better sense of where to focus attention and funding.

Campuses become more resilient when the smaller physical details receive the same scrutiny as the larger systems. Sightlines, door hardware, windows, access controls, and building layouts all shape how safely people can move through a space. By recognizing where these weak points hide and bringing security considerations into the design and maintenance cycle, organizations support faster response times and better protection for the people who use the campus every day.

Megan Tansom is the Marketing Manager at H2I Group, a nationwide subcontractor specializing in building innovative spaces for education, athletics, research, and healthcare.

The post 5 Overlooked School Construction Details That Compromise Campus Security appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

The majority of U.S. colleges and universities have failed to comply with a new federal law requiring them to post hazing incidents online.

The Campus Hazing Transparency Report (CHTR), mandated by the Stop Campus Hazing Act (SCHA), requires colleges to publicly disclose substantiated hazing violations. The inaugural report, which must include every violation with a final finding on or after July 1, 2025, was to be published by Dec. 23, 2025 -- one year after the act was signed into law.

RELATED ARTICLE: College Hazing Death Database: 122 People Have Died in Last 25 Years

According to HazingInfo.org's deep dive into new hazing data for nearly 1,500 colleges and universities, more than 800 missed last month's deadline, making 56% of campuses out of compliance with SCHA. The researchers also found one-quarter of schools provide no hazing information on their websites whatsoever.

While 71% of campuses have a formal hazing policy, which is required by the federal law, HazingInfo determined only 42% of schools provide an online form to report hazing.

“Many campuses are falling short of the spirit of the law,” said Dr. Elizabeth Allan, a leading hazing researcher and director of the University of Maine's Hazing Prevention Research Lab. “The concerning part is how many campuses still seem to be treating hazing as something to manage quietly, rather than confront openly."

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Larger Colleges More Likely to Comply with Stop Campus Hazing Act

HazingInfo found examples of colleges and universities -- both big and small -- that are prioritizing hazing transparency. However, smaller schools are less likely to be in compliance due to fewer resources and staff, the researchers say.

HazingInfo estimates 80% of the largest colleges and universities in each state are in compliance, including Johns Hopkins University, Oklahoma State University, Purdue University, University of Central Florida, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Michigan, University of Oregon, and University of Washington.

A full list of the campuses HazingInfo tracks regarding compliance can be found here.

First-Time Clery Act Requirement Challenges 'Nothing New'

While most colleges campuses are non-compliant, S. Daniel Carter, president of consulting firm SAFE Campuses, LLC, told Campus Safety that challenges in implementing first-time Clery Act requirements are "nothing new," particularly as campuses await additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

"While most institutions have not yet posted a Campus Hazing Transparency Report, this stems in part from a legislative compromise that exempts schools without substantiated violations since July 1, 2025," he said. "For those that fall under this exemption, SAFE Campuses, LLC strongly recommends promptly publishing a zero-violation report to eliminate ambiguity, demonstrate good faith, and create a centralized resource with essential anti-hazing policies, reporting options, and prevention programming for every campus."

RELATED ARTICLE: What the Stop Campus Hazing Act Means for Universities and Legal Liability

The post 56% of Colleges Missed Stop Campus Hazing Act Compliance Deadline appeared first on Campus Safety Magazine.

San José State University (SJSU) violated Title IX by allowing a transgender woman to compete on the women's volleyball team, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights said Wednesday.

SJSU was at the center of a 2024 controversy when some students on the women's volleyball team and competing teams objected to the presence of Blaire Fleming, a transgender woman who had played for the team since 2022, Inside Higher Ed reports. Fleming's teammates sued SJSU and the NCAA, and other teams forfeited games in protest.

The Education Department launched an investigation into SJSU in 2025, one day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender women from competing in women's sports at federally funded schools and colleges. One month prior, Trump signed another executive order declaring that the policy of the United States is that there are two sexes --male and female -- which are "not changeable."

RELATED ARTICLE: 16 Female College Athletes Sue NCAA, U. Georgia System Over Transgender Policies

The department also alleges SJSU violated Title IX by failing to promptly investigate complaints from cisgender female athletes and “by taking action that discouraged women from participating in the Title IX process.”

“SJSU caused significant harm to female athletes by allowing a male to compete on the women’s volleyball team—creating unfairness in competition, compromising safety, and denying women equal opportunities in athletics, including scholarships and playing time. Even worse, when female athletes spoke out, SJSU retaliated—ignoring sex-discrimination claims while subjecting one female SJSU athlete to a Title IX complaint for allegedly ‘misgendering’ the male athlete competing on a women’s team. This is unacceptable,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. “We will not relent until SJSU is held to account for these abuses and commits to upholding Title IX to protect future athletes from the same indignities.”

OCR Title IX Findings Conflict with State Law, LGBTQ+ Advocate Says

Jorge Reyes-Salinas with Equality California, an LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, told ABC 7 that the department's findings conflict with state laws.

"California law clearly protects transgender students from discrimination, including school athletics. Public universities in California are required to follow state civil rights laws, and San Jose State is doing exactly that and hopefully continue to do so," Reyes-Salinas said. "This is another attempt to use threats and their own executive orders to benefit the investigation they were running."

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San José State Title IX Resolution Agreement

As part of a proposed Resolution Agreement, OCR is requiring SJSU to:

• Issue a public statement to the SJSU community that SJSU will adopt biology-based definitions of the words ‘male’ and ‘female’ and acknowledge that the sex of a human – male or female – is unchangeable
• Specify that SJSU will follow Title IX by separating sports and intimate facilities based on biological sex
• State that SJSU will not delegate its obligation to comply with Title IX to any external association or entity and will not contract with any entity that discriminates on the basis of sex
• Restore to individual female athletes all individual athletic records and titles misappropriated by male athletes competing in women’s categories, and issue a personalized letter of apology on behalf of SJSU to each female athlete for allowing her participation in athletics to be marred by sex discrimination
• Send a personalized apology to every woman who played in SJSU’s women’s indoor volleyball (2022–2024), 2023 beach volleyball, and to any woman on a team that forfeited rather than compete against SJSU while a male student was on the roster—expressing sincere regret for placing female athletes in that position

RELATED ARTICLE: Anti-LGBTQ+ School Policies Associated with High Rates of LGBTQ+ Student Depression, Suicide Attempts

SJSU has 10 days to respond and could face "imminent enforcement action" -- such as pulling federal funding -- if it doesn't voluntarily resolve the violations, the Los Angeles Times reported.

An SJSU spokesperson said the school is reviewing the department's finding and that it "remain[s] committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive educational environment for all students while complying with applicable laws and regulations."

Wednesday's announcement comes as the Supreme Court is set to rule this summer on the legality of transgender athlete bans in schools.

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