Blog: Campus Safety and Security

By Stuart Magness '95, Interim Dean of Students

The safety and security of students on our nation’s school campuses is a top issue for families and educators alike. We talked with Stuart Magness ’95, Father Ryan’s Interim Dean of Students, Director of Campus Security for 17 years, and a veteran of the Nashville Metro Police Department as a Gang Probation Officer on how Father Ryan works to create a safer, more secure campus and in person and online safety tips every parent can use.

What security systems and measures are in place at Father Ryan?

There are many ways we keep our community safe. We have a front gate with a camera; this is our only entrance to our 43-acre campus. It is open for carpooling, but at 8:00am, the gate is locked. The only way to access our campus at that point is to buzz the Main Office through our access point at the front gate. Student and faculty IDs work on the gate, but all visitors must use the two-way camera on the access point to enter. For dismissal, we open the gates but lock them again after dismissal. Gates are also open for events like athletic games. 

The entire perimeter of our campus is surrounded by a fence, which serves as the first line of defense in preventing unauthorized access. We strike a balance between ensuring the safety of our 833 students and 140 faculty and staff each day without creating the impression of a fortress. We want students to feel secure but not constricted. We have two, full-time, armed officers on campus who are retired Metro police officers with 30-plus years on the force. They are here every day and at events after hours. 

Every exterior door on every building has keycard access control readers. Doors are locked at all times, 24/7. Student IDs work only during school hours but not after school. Faculty and staff have 24-hour access to any building, with the exception of the Advancement House.

Once inside our buildings, every lock on every door has a closet lock, which may be opened with a key, but as soon as the door shuts, it is automatically locked. The only way to enter any interior room is with a key. Our teachers do a phenomenal job of making sure doors are closed while teaching. 

Our Father Ryan ID is part of our uniform, for students and adults. It is a key part of our ability to identify visitors to campus. All visitors must check in with the Main Office where we run their identification through Raptor, an integrated school safety system that conducts quick criminal background checks. All visitors who pass through the Raptor system receive a fluorescent orange badge with their photo and visit date that they must wear around their neck. They have to keep that visible at all times while walking around campus.

Are there cameras on campus?

We have 100-plus live-feed cameras on our campus with recording capabilities. About 80% of those cameras are ZeroEyes cameras, which use AI to detect a weapon on campus. 

If a weapon is detected, it immediately sends an alert within seven seconds to me, our two campus officers, our President, our Principal, and Metro Police. We also receive a computer alert. The system sends a picture of the location and weapon type. The system detects non-lethal weapons, too. Recently students in our theater program were rehearsing a play with a prop gun, and the system alerted us of a non-lethal weapon on campus. 

Last summer, we installed a Flock Camera license plate reading system on Norwood Drive towards Franklin Road. When a car approaches campus, the camera snaps a photo of the license plate and runs a report. We are immediately notified if the car’s owner has an outstanding warrant. All of this technology has certainly been an upgrade to Father Ryan’s security.

When determining how best to secure their campuses, what is the biggest security hurdle/barrier for schools?

The cost schools must incur to provide the proper, comprehensive safety on their campus is the biggest issue. This is especially true for private schools that don’t necessarily have the resources to put in place what is needed to protect our students, faculty, staff, and visitors.  

Father Ryan is a big, beautiful campus with officers, cameras, and a comprehensive security system and plan in place. A common misconception of all schools is that safety issues won't happen. We cannot let our guard down. 

What is your guiding vision for keeping the Father Ryan campus safe?

Our goal is not only to keep everyone safe and secure on Father Ryan’s campus but to do so unobtrusively. We are very fortunate that President Paul Davis, Principal Frank Espinosa, and Connie Steinmetz, our CFO, work extremely well with our security team. Safety is a top priority. We are all committed to protecting our community. 

Our fences and gate are our first line of defense. Our comprehensive camera system is the second line, and our ID entry system provides additional security. We have a comprehensive, cutting-edge campus security system, but we also are protecting the 833 teenagers who are on the campus. It is important to educate them about their own safety. We do regular drills for weather, fire, and evacuation. We hold lockdown drills once or twice a quarter. These drills were not part of my Father Ryan high school experience in the 90s, but they are a necessity today. 

Each year, I talk frankly with our incoming students about security and safety and why it is important. I remind them that in the event of an active shooter on campus, they must play the most crucial game of hide and seek of their lives. I want them to understand how important their safety is to us and to be prepared to make decisions.

Campus safety is always evolving. What are you hoping to do next?

We would love to upgrade our camera system with updated software, add more cameras, and post a full-time onsite guard at the front gate. Our two officers do a phenomenal job and are truly part of our community, so we would like to add a few more.  

Our system works well in part because our security officers are known by our students, faculty, and staff. Our students feel comfortable talking to our officers and asking them questions about law enforcement. Our officers eat lunch in the Dining Hall and get to know everyone in our community. When I speak with students, including my own children, about school safety, they can be numb to it. School shootings happen all too frequently in this country.

But, we are preparing them for college and life beyond our campus and need to ensure they understand safety and security. A few years ago, we brought an unknown, retired Metro officer to campus. Only our security team knew about his presence. His job for the day was to walk around our campus without a visitor pass and keep track of how many people stopped him and whether he gained entry into our buildings. All of it was caught on our cameras.

Every student who saw him either stopped him and asked who he was and where he was going—and showed him where he needed to go to receive a visitor pass—or reported it to an adult. Great security is a team effort, and that includes faculty, staff, and students. We are our first and best line of defense. 

As a faith-based school, can you talk about the emotional effect the proliferation of school shootings in the nation has on young people? 

Unfortunately, this is a reality of our world today. To support our students, we have a full-time counseling department, a personal counseling service, and a private counselor on our Father Ryan staff. They are here every day to provide assistance. We balance the emotional aspect of security extremely well at Father Ryan. It is a serious topic, and it needs to be in order to keep everyone safe. The flip side is the emotional toll it can take on our teenagers, and on us. Our counselors do a great job working with our kids and giving them the resources and the tools they need. 

What is the biggest off-campus security issue for students and parents?

Smartphones are the biggest off-campus threat. Our kids are fortunate to have a computer in their pocket. However, if not monitored and watched closely by adults, danger may not be far behind. Child pornography, cyberbullying, sextortion, and harassment are done easily—and out of parents’ sight—with a phone. While these topics may sound extreme, they are much more common than parents would expect. 

Our kids have the misconception that what is on their phones is private. It is called the World Wide Web for a reason. It is forever, and students need to be aware of that reality.

Watch what your kids are viewing on their phones. Open lines of communication. Talk to them about what not to post. As a parent, I know that it is hard. The pressure our kids are under today far exceeds anything we could ever imagine dealing with when we were in school. Kids are vulnerable to everything. As adults, we have to encourage them to speak up when they see something on their phones that is not right. I also recommend phones stay with the parents at bedtime for better emotional well-being.

What do you want parents to know about campus safety and how to keep their children more secure?

Security is everyone’s job on our campus. When I address security with students, I tell them that Father Ryan is their home, and taking pride in their home means being aware of their surroundings. If they see something or someone on campus that does not belong, speak up.  

We also ask that parents encourage their kids to report anything suspicious. That goes for online activity as well. Whether it is about self-harm or any act of violence, students must report it to an adult. Parents and adults have the responsibility to relay that information to the school or the proper authorities. I instruct our community, in the event of a threat, to call 9-1-1 and then call me. Our security team should be the second call. Take the initiative and say something when you realize something is not right.

One of the most important things for parents to keep in mind is that the cell phone is a double-edged sword. It is a tool students can use to prevent trouble, and it is one that may cause trouble. In almost all incidents of school and teenage violence, there are indications and signs on social media. We see this in almost every shooting across the country. 

Safety really does start with parents. Pay attention to what your kids are doing on their phones and online. If you don't feel comfortable checking their phone, talk to them about what they are looking at and doing online. Communication is essential in preventing tragedies. 

About Mr. Magness

A Nashville native, Stuart Magness ’95 earned his B.S. in Sports Administration from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. He served the Nashville Metro Police as a Gang Probation Officer for eight years before coming back to Father Ryan in 2007. In addition to overseeing the school’s security program, for the 2024-2025 year, Mr. Magness is the Interim Dean of Students. He is married to Lindsey (Lynch) Magness ’95, and they have three kids Makenzie ’21, Griffin ’23, and Lynch ’28.