A Convergence of Crises
School districts have always budgeted for rainy days. A boiler fails. A roof leaks. A bus needs replacing. These are the routine storms that administrators navigate with reserves, levies, and careful planning. But 2020 was not a routine storm. It was a deluge — and the floodwaters came from every direction at once.
First, COVID-19. In March 2020, schools across the country closed their doors. Teachers pivoted to remote lesson plans. Students waited at home for an "all clear" that never came. Daily briefings from governors and health officials offered uncertainty, not reassurance. Frustration and depression mounted — among educators, parents, and children alike.
The Collateral Damage
Children bore a disproportionate share of the fallout. Fear, anxiety, and depression were reported in students who had shown no prior symptoms. Isolation from friends, disrupted routines, and months of screen-based learning took a measurable toll on mental health. The CDC documented sharp increases in emergency department visits for mental health crises among adolescents during 2020 and 2021.
Before schools could address the mental health crisis, civil unrest swept the country. Protests over racial injustice and police use of force dominated every news channel and social media feed. Cities experienced civil disturbances, property destruction, and violence. Children watched from their imposed isolation — unable to escape the media saturation and unable to process it with teachers or peers.
The Push to Remove SROs
Then came the movement to defund police departments and remove School Resource Officers from school buildings. SROs are sworn law enforcement officers embedded in schools to build relationships with students, gather information, and provide immediate response to threats. The FBI’s data shows that between 2000 and 2019, active shooter incidents produced 2,851 casualties across the United States. Having an armed, trained officer on-site when an incident begins can mean the difference between a response measured in seconds versus one measured in minutes.
"The tactics in virtually every law enforcement agency switched to a Single Officer Response Technique (SORT) to prevent any delay."
— Bill Barna, 33-year retired police officer
Removing SROs from schools increases response time. Increased response time costs lives. Whatever the merits of the broader policing debate, the security implications for students are concrete and measurable.
The Threat Did Not Take a Break
The pandemic suppressed active shooter incidents temporarily — empty buildings mean fewer targets. But the reopening brought the threat back in force:
- 2021: 61 active shooter incidents, 243 casualties
- 2022: 50 incidents, 313 casualties
- 2023: 48 incidents, 244 casualties
According to Everytown for Gun Safety, the 2023–2024 school year recorded 144 incidents of gunfire on school grounds — a 31% increase.
Increased social tension. Elevated mental health crises among students. Decreased police presence in some districts. Depleted budgets. This combination of factors creates heightened risk at precisely the moment when schools have the fewest resources to address it.
What Schools Can Control
Schools cannot control the economy, the political climate, or the next pandemic. They can control their physical security posture. CISA’s K-12 School Security Guide and FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program ($274.5 million available for FY2025) provide both the framework and the funding to harden school buildings against threats.
Door barricade devices like the Bolo Stick are one of the most cost-effective measures available. At $69 per door, with one-step deployment and zero training requirements, they provide a physical barrier that buys the time law enforcement needs to respond — regardless of whether an SRO is on site or the nearest officer is minutes away.
It will rain again. The question is whether your building is ready.
Prepare your school for whatever comes next. Shop Bolo Stick products or contact us for a security consultation.