Buzzed, Briefs, And Badges

Before you buzz that stranger into the building, before they brief you on who they are or why they are there, and before you get their visitor badge ready, consider these tips and strategies on successful visitor controlled access to your building.

Gatekeeper

It's ok to say “no” “hold on” “standby”

Why allow them any further into the school building even if they are already in the office?

Door & Office Issues

divorced parents non-custodial in-laws pedophiles

Beyond a reasonable doubt that they have a legitimate, legal reason to be there

Buzzed?

If they are intoxicated (buzzed), impaired or otherwise undesirable, then simply refuse them service and send them on their way (call the police if necessary).

Briefs….(quick answers)

Why are they at the door? Who do they want to see? Are you expecting them? Are they a vendor? Parent? Guardian? Sales person?

Already in the office?

Irate parents Upset teachers Injured students

De-Escalation Techniques

Have them brief you on what is upsetting them

“All we want are the facts, ma’am”, - Sgt. Joe Friday

Look for the clues, listen for the indicators of what is behind their irritation.

Speak softly

Active Listening Skills

We have two ears and one mouth

Just the mere attention to a person’s troubles can help them deal with the stress, annoyance or minor injury (whether physical or emotional).

Active Listening Skills

eye contact paraphrasing or clarifying

what they just said showing empathy (not

sympathy) to their struggle. nodding your head and an

occasional “yes” or “I understand”

How to win friends…

Dale Carnegie: become genuinely interested

in other people smile a person’s name is the most

beautiful sound to them in any language

How to win friends…(cont)

talk in terms of the other person’s interests

see things from the other person’s point of view

make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely

Badges

If they have passed your in-depth interrogation, hand them a visitor’s badge and send them on their way.

If they refuse to heed your disarming persona, then it may be time to call in “the Badge.”

Badges

Even if your school does not have a SRO, police officers working the street do not mind making contact with you in the school office if there is a situation.

“Badge” issues

divorced parents who were screaming over their child

referral to children services a suspicious package left by

an unknown adult for a student teacher whose soon-to-be ex

was threatening to disrupt the school day.

Missing Students

If the administrator cannot locate the child in a relatively short amount of time, do not delay in contacting law enforcement. For every hour that child is missing, the chance of getting them reunited with their custodial parent dramatically declines.

What can you share?

“Directory Information” Some policies allow dates of

attendance and photo as found in a yearbook

Will not include discipline records, IEP or other diagnoses made strictly for educational purposes.

What can Police share?

Previous juvenile arrests Known associates of the

student outside of school Information on relatives,

phone numbers, addresses, etc

What can Police do?

At the end of the day, if we have to get the handcuffs out, I rely on what Rookie Jim Reed once said on Adam-12, “You just have to know how to arrest them and still make them like you. We call it technique.”