This Week’s SafeSchools Minute

Holding Doors (Tailgating)

Part of the Guided Weekly School Safety Program

Share this week's SafeSchools Minute with your staff through your school's usual communication channels.

Use the Ready-to-Send Email below to quickly copy and paste a message into your email, then attach the Reminder PDF before sending.

Each reminder takes about one minute to read and reinforces an important everyday school safety habit..

Subject: This Week’s Safety Reminder: Holding Doors and Tailgating
Good morning,
This week’s SafeSchools Minute™ focuses on holding exterior doors and tailgating.
Holding a door for someone may feel polite, especially when the person looks familiar. However, every individual entering the building must use the designated entrance and follow the school’s visitor procedures.
Please remember:
Do not allow anyone to follow you through a secured exterior door unless you know they are authorized to enter.
Direct visitors, parents, contractors, and delivery personnel to the main entrance.
After entering or exiting, confirm that the door closes and latches completely behind you.
A simple response is:
“Everyone is required to enter through the main entrance. Please check in at the office.”
Courtesy is important, but it should never override building security.
Thank you for helping keep our school secure.

Holding an exterior door open for someone may feel polite, especially when the person looks familiar. However, every individual entering the building must use the designated entrance and follow the school’s visitor procedures.
Do not allow anyone to follow you through a secured exterior door unless you know they are authorized to enter. Politely direct them to the main entrance, even if they say they are a parent, employee, contractor, or delivery person.
Courtesy should never override security.
What would you say if someone attempted to follow you through a secured exterior door?
Suggested response:
“Everyone is required to enter through the main entrance. Please check in at the office.”
Watch for people approaching an exterior door as staff members enter or leave the building.
Pay particular attention during:
• Morning arrival
• Staff shift changes
• Deliveries
• Recess transitions
• Dismissal
• After school activities
Make sure the door closes and latches completely behind you.
Every time you enter or exit the building, pause for a moment and confirm that no unauthorized person followed you inside and that the door fully secured behind you.