This Week’s SafeSchools Minute

Propped Exterior Doors: Why One Exception Matters

Part of the Guided Weekly School Safety Program

How to Use This Week’s Reminder

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.

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  • Subject: This Week’s Safety Reminder: Propped Exterior Doors, Why One Exception Matters

    Staff,

    This week’s SafeSchools Minute™ returns to an important access control topic: Propped Exterior Doors, Why One Exception Matters.

    Exterior doors are sometimes opened temporarily for deliveries, equipment, outdoor activities, or other legitimate reasons.

    The concern begins when that temporary opening is left unattended.

    If an exterior door needs to remain open briefly, someone should be actively responsible for it and the door should be closed and secured as soon as the task is complete.

    This week, please pay particular attention to exterior doors being used for temporary access. Before walking away, make sure the door has fully closed and latched.

    Please take one minute to review the attached reminder.

    Temporary access still requires active control.

    Thank you for helping us maintain consistent control of our exterior entrances.

  • Propped exterior doors remain one of the simplest ways for building security to be compromised.

    The problem often begins with a reasonable exception. A delivery arrives. Equipment needs to be moved. Staff are going in and out for an activity. Someone plans to return in just a minute.

    The risk begins when that temporary opening is left unattended.

    If an exterior door must be open briefly, someone should remain responsible for it, and the door should be closed and secured as soon as the task is complete.

    One exception can quickly become an unsecured access point if no one is actively managing it.

  • When is it acceptable for an exterior door to remain open temporarily?

    Suggested response:

    Only when there is a legitimate operational need and the door is being actively supervised.

    Staff should also confirm:

    • Someone is clearly responsible for the opening
    • The door is not left unattended
    • Unauthorized individuals cannot enter
    • The door is closed and latched immediately afterward

  • Pay particular attention to:

    • Doors opened for deliveries
    • Doors used while moving equipment
    • Exterior doors near recess or outdoor activities
    • Staff using side entrances for convenience
    • Doors left open while someone says they will be “right back”
    • Unattended doors during arrival or dismissal
    • Doors that appear closed but have not fully latched

    A temporary opening should never become an unattended access point.

  • This week, pay special attention any time an exterior door is opened for a temporary reason.

    Ask yourself:

    • Who is responsible for this door right now?
    • Is someone actively watching the opening?
    • Could someone enter without being noticed?
    • Did the door close and latch when the task was finished?

    If you find an unattended exterior door open, secure it when safe to do so and report any recurring problem.

    Temporary access still requires active control.

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