With capabilities becoming increasingly sophisticated, the responsibility for physical security is shifting toward IT departments
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how schools approach campus safety, with technologies that extend protection from perimeter surveillance to more sensitive areas such as bathrooms, according to Bryan Krause, senior safety and security advisor at PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools), speaking at the CoSN 2025 conference.
Modern surveillance steps beyond hindsight
Krause recalled a time when school security amounted to sifting through grainy footage — “that might be a student, or it might be Bigfoot,” he quipped — highlighting just how rudimentary past systems were. Today’s AI-enabled cameras, he explained, can actively track movement through buildings and monitor vulnerable zones like parking lots to pre-empt threats.
Security becomes an IT responsibility
With capabilities becoming increasingly sophisticated, the responsibility for physical security is shifting toward IT departments. “The line between IT and school safety is becoming more and more blurred,” Krause told attendees.
A layered security strategy: doors, sensors, alerts
Access control: AI aids in identifying unauthorised individuals — such as suspended students or unverified guardians — allowing staff to act swiftly and reduce liability.
Environmental sensors: Designed for areas without cameras, sensors now detect actions like vaping or aggressive sounds, filling critical blind spots such as bathrooms or locker rooms.
Alert systems: Evolving in sophistication, new systems can trigger silent alarms, alert law enforcement, and even initiate lockdowns — particularly in states that have enacted laws like Alyssa’s Law.
Implementation demands planning and partnership
Krause urged safety leaders to form planning committees, engage IT experts early, and craft long-term (one- to five-year) security roadmaps. Crucially, these technologies should complement — not replace — the instinct and judgment of humans on the ground. “AI is a partner and not a replacement,” he affirmed.
Why this matters
From passive to proactive: AI is transforming school security from reactive review to real-time prevention.
Holistic protection: Solutions combine physical, digital, and procedural measures across campus.
Human agency central: Technology enhances capacity but cannot substitute for trained staff and coordinated planning.
