A prestigious private boarding school situated on more than 300 acres in the New England region engaged SRMC to conduct its first comprehensive, independent security assessment. With a large campus footprint, residential population, and frequent visitors, school leadership sought a clearer understanding of the threats, risks, and vulnerabilities facing the institution, as well as practical, prioritized strategies to enhance safety for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The school recognized the need for a holistic evaluation of its security posture to ensure that protective measures aligned with best practices for boarding school environments while preserving the openness and character of the campus.
Our Approach
SRMC conducted a thorough assessment of the school’s existing security program, evaluating physical security technologies, security staffing, emergency plans, and the policies, procedures, and processes that support daily and emergency operations. Particular attention was given to prevention strategies and training programs designed to promote awareness, preparedness, and coordinated response across the campus community.
The assessment included a comprehensive walk through of the campus and surrounding areas to observe access points, circulation patterns, building layouts, and environmental conditions that could impact safety and security. SRMC conducted interviews with school leadership, faculty, staff, and parents to better understand perceived security concerns, institutional culture, and expectations for safety. Emergency management practices and large event planning procedures were reviewed to assess readiness for both routine and high-impact incidents. In addition, SRMC met with local first responders to gain insight into their response capabilities, communication protocols, and coordination with the school during emergency situations.
Results
The assessment resulted in a series of actionable recommendations designed to reduce risk, improve situational awareness, and strengthen the school’s overall security framework. Key outcomes included guidance to modify campus access by reducing guest entry points to a single, controlled gate to better manage and monitor visitors. SRMC recommended implementation of a centralized visitor management program requiring all non-affiliated individuals to register at a designated location before accessing campus.
The assessment also identified opportunities to enhance emergency communications through upgrades to the public address system, ensuring that critical announcements could be clearly heard across all areas of the expansive campus. SRMC advised updates to the school’s emergency management manual to incorporate a Run Hide Fight response framework for active shooter scenarios, aligned with current best practices. To support long-term consistency and scalability, SRMC recommended development of a comprehensive Security Technology Master Plan, including standardized security technologies across campus facilities.
Conclusion
Through this engagement, the boarding school gained its first formal, enterprise level understanding of its security risks and the measures needed to address them effectively. SRMC’s assessment provided a clear roadmap for strengthening access control, emergency preparedness, communications, and technology governance while respecting the unique character of a large residential academic campus. The resulting recommendations positioned the school to make informed, phased investments in security that enhance safety, improve coordination with first responders, and reinforce confidence among students, families, faculty, and staff.
