Back-to-School Security Checklist for K-12 School Administrators 2025

Is Your School Security Technology Ready for Day One?

As the first day of school approaches, school leaders in Greenville, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC and all across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia have more than just lesson plans on their minds. Safety is a top priority—and that means making sure your entire school security system is up and running at full strength.

From access control systems to PA systems, every part of your school’s security technology should be tested, inspected, and verified before students return. Use this handy, easy checklist 2–4 weeks before school starts (scroll down for the printable version) to ensure all security systems and safety technology are working properly and compliant with regulations.

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✅ Access Control Systems

Your school access control system controls who can enter and exit buildings, classrooms, and restricted areas. Before the school year starts:

• Audit and update all key cards, fobs, and door schedules

• Verify lock/unlock times match your updated bell schedule

• Ensure staff credentials are current—and that former staff access is revoked

• Test for any lag or failure in card readers or door relays

Access control technology is your school’s first line of defense. A system that works reliably helps prevent unauthorized entry and ensures a smooth school day.

Back-to-School Access Control System Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Ensure all doors, schedules, credentials, and readers function properly.

• ☐ Review access permissions by role (staff, faculty, vendors)

• ☐ Remove access for former employees

• ☐ Issue and test new key cards/fobs

• ☐ Check each exterior/interior controlled door for:

  • ☐ Lock/unlock timing accuracy

  • ☐ Proper reader scan response

  • ☐ Door latch and lock function

• ☐ Check system logs for failed access attempts or alerts

• ☐ Confirm admin can remotely unlock/lock doors as needed

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Reset malfunctioning card readers at the panel

• Confirm door wiring hasn’t come loose

• Sync system clock with updated bell schedule

Best Practices for Classroom Locks

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🛑 Visitor Management System

Every campus needs to know who’s walking through the front door. Your visitor management system should:

• Scan driver’s licenses or government-issued IDs

• Check for flagged individuals and issue visitor badges

• Log all entries with time stamps and host names

Parents, volunteers, contractors—no one should enter without proper clearance. If your school doesn’t have an integrated visitor system, GenX Security can help you get one installed before school starts.

Back-to-School Visitor Management System Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Ensure a safe, trackable entry process for non-staff individuals.

• ☐ Verify software is updated and ID scanning works

• ☐ Test badge printing and sign-in alerts

• ☐ Run a flagged guest test scenario

• ☐ Review access policies for visitors (escorts, access limits)

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Reboot kiosk hardware if scanner stalls

• Confirm internet connectivity for real-time background checks

• Update visitor host contact list

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🎥 Security Camera Systems

School security cameras offer real-time visibility and help resolve incidents quickly. Make sure to:

• Check that all cameras are recording and accessible remotely

• Verify the storage system is working and saving footage

• Clean lenses and adjust angles for full coverage—especially at entrances, hallways, and exterior areas

• Review alert settings for motion detection or unusual activity

If your system feels outdated or hard to manage, GenX Security installs advanced IP-based camera systems with cloud or hybrid storage options for schools.

🎥 Back-to-School Security Cameras and Video Surveillance Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Ensure full visual coverage, storage, and system alerts.

• ☐ Inspect every camera for clean lens and proper focus

• ☐ Check night vision and low-light performance

• ☐ Confirm NVR or cloud storage is functioning and has available space

• ☐ Review footage from last 24 hours on multiple cameras

• ☐ Confirm that motion-triggered alerts are working

• ☐ Map blind spots and plan new coverage if needed

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Reboot offline cameras and re-check PoE connections

• Update firmware for lagging IP cameras

• Adjust angles for blind corners or entryways

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🔊 Public Address (PA) and Intercom Systems

Clear communication during emergencies is essential. Your PA system and intercom system should:

• Be tested in every classroom, hallway, and outdoor area

• Allow two-way communication with the front office and administration

• Be linked to your security system or fire alarm system for automatic announcements when needed

If students and teachers can’t hear you clearly, response times during an emergency can suffer.

Back-to-School PA System & Intercom System Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Ensure emergency messages are loud and clear in all zones.

• ☐ Test announcements in every classroom, hallway, and exterior area

• ☐ Confirm intercom stations function in all key locations (front office, admin, gym, etc.)

• ☐ Review integration with access control/fire alarm for emergency broadcasting

• ☐ Confirm two-way communication capability where needed

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Replace blown speakers or faulty microphones

• Check for feedback/static interference

• Test from backup power in case of outage

GenX Security Paging Systems for Schools

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🚭 Smart Sensors: Vape, Smoke, and Air Quality Detection

Smart vape detectors and smoke sensors are becoming essential in modern school buildings—especially in bathrooms and locker rooms. These systems help identify:

• Vaping or smoking incidents

• Abnormal temperature or humidity changes

• Tampering or obstruction alerts

Some schools are also installing air quality sensors to monitor for dangerous CO2 or poor ventilation. GenX Security integrates these sensors into your existing network so they report to the same central platform.

Back-to-School Smart Sensors (Vape, Smoke, Tamper) Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Detect and alert for harmful or prohibited behaviors in real-time.

• ☐ Test all vape detectors in bathrooms, locker rooms, etc.

• ☐ Confirm smoke detection sensors alert system or SRO

• ☐ Inspect sensors for tampering

• ☐ Review alerts received over past 30 days

• ☐ Confirm integration with dashboard or security app

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Dust or clean sensor intake

• Update firmware or app

• Replace sensors not sending data to the platform

Smart Sensors for Schools

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🔥 Commercial Fire Alarm Systems

Back-to-school fire drills only work if your commercial fire alarm system is fully functional. Before day one, ensure:

• All smoke detectors and pull stations are working

• Alarm sounders and strobe lights are tested

• Your fire alarm control panel (FACP) is updated and has no error codes

• Emergency contacts and response plans are reviewed

We install and service Honeywell, Mircom, and Siemens fire alarm systems—each one chosen based on your building’s layout and local fire codes in South Carolina.

Back-to-School Fire Alarm System Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Meet compliance and life safety standards for commercial buildings.

• ☐ Schedule annual fire alarm inspection (if not yet completed)

• ☐ Test smoke and heat detectors

• ☐ Pull fire alarm at several pull stations and confirm activation

• ☐ Verify alarm sounds and strobes throughout building

• ☐ Review panel for any faults or trouble codes

• ☐ Ensure system resets properly after a test

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Silence alarms using control panel only if test is complete

• Log zone faults and report to your licensed fire alarm technician

• Check backup battery health and panel connections

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💡 Bonus Tip: Schedule a Full Security System Inspection

The best way to avoid surprises on the first day of school is to schedule a professional inspection. GenX Security Solutions offers complete school security technology checkups in Greenville, SC, Myrtle Beach, SC, and surrounding areas. We’ll audit your entire system:

• Access control

• Surveillance cameras

• Intercom and PA systems

• Visitor entry

• Smart sensors

• Fire alarms

We can repair, replace, or upgrade anything that’s not working like it should.

🧠 Back-to-School Final Systems Integration Check-Up Checklist

Goal: Confirm your systems work together in emergencies and daily operations.

• ☐ Verify access control responds to lockdown triggers

• ☐ Confirm security cameras activate during fire alarm or intrusion events

• ☐ Test emergency notification system (email, text, app alert)

• ☐ Run a complete mock drill for fire, lockdown, or intrusion

• ☐ Review all alerts for proper routing (to admin, SRO, district HQ, etc.)

Troubleshooting Tips:

• Review integration logs in your system dashboard

• Reconfigure automation rules if events are not triggering properly

• Schedule a professional integration check if unsure

Four-Layer Approach to School Security

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Want a printout of the checklist? Download here!

School Security Technology Checklist - GenX Security Solutions.pdf

Download PDF • 7.71MB

📍 Serving Schools in Greenville, SC, Myrtle Beach, SC, Winston-Salem, NC and Beyond!

GenX Security Solutions is proud to support South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia schools with fully integrated, future-ready school security systems. Whether you need an upgrade, a fix, or a whole new solution, we’re here to help.

🔹 Licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia

🔹 Woman-owned and ranked among SC’s fastest growing companies

🔹 Experts in K-12 school safety, security integration, and smart building technology

Don’t wait until school is in session to find out your security technology isn’t ready.

GenX Security Solutions offers:

✅ Full system inspections

✅ Preventative maintenance

✅ Rapid service calls and upgrades

✅ Custom installations and integrations for schools

Ready to Get Started?

📞 Call GenX Security today to schedule your school security checkup

🌐 Learn more: www.genxsecurity.com

📍 Locally based in Greenville, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC with service to South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Let’s make this school year the safest one yet.

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Experience the next generation of interactive security services and solutions with GenX Security.

With custom security integration solutions come custom quotes designed for your needs. Please contact us by clicking here or calling 866-598-4369.

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At GenX Security Solutions, we proudly serve businesses in all locations across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia with cutting-edge commercial security systems, access control solutions, structured cabling, fire alarms, and professional audio/visual integration. From bustling cities like Greenville and Raleigh to growing industrial hubs like Winston-Salem to hospitality hot spots like Myrtle Beach, our team delivers tailored solutions to meet your business’s unique needs.

Please visit our state-specific pages for more information on our services in various industries. We serve all cities in the Upstate and surrounding, including:

SOUTH CAROLINA	NORTH CAROLINA	GEORGIA
Aiken, SC	Asheville, NC	Alpharetta, GA
Anderson, SC	Burlington, NC	Athens, GA
Beaufort, SC	Cary, NC	Atlanta, GA
Charleston, SC	Chapel Hill, NC	Augusta, GA
Columbia, SC	Charlotte, NC	Carrollton, GA
Florence, SC	Concord, NC	Columbus, GA
Goose Creek, SC	Durham, NC	Dalton, GA
Greenville, SC	Fayetteville, NC	Douglasville, GA
Greenwood, SC	Gastonia, NC	Gainesville, GA
Greer, SC	Goldsboro, NC	Hinesville, GA
Hilton Head Island, SC	Greensboro, NC	Macon, GA
Lexington, SC	Hickory, NC	Marietta, GA
Mount Pleasant, SC	High Point, NC	Newnan, GA
Myrtle Beach, SC	Jacksonville, NC	Peachtree City, GA
North Charleston, SC	Kannapolis, NC	Rome, GA
Orangeburg, SC	Raleigh, NC	Roswell, GA
Piedmont, SC	Rocky Mount, NC	Sandy Springs, GA
Rock Hill, SC	Wilmington, NC	Savannah, GA
Spartanburg, SC	Wilson, NC	Valdosta, GA
Summerville, SC	Winston-Salem, NC	Warner Robins, GA