School Safety Before and After the Bell: Keeping Students Safe Beyond the Classroom

On February 16, 2026, a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, turned into a scene of tragedy when a shooting claimed three lives and injured three others. While the investigation is ongoing, police believe the violence stemmed from a family dispute—but the impact was felt by an entire community of students, parents, and athletes who were simply there to watch a game.

This incident is a stark reminder that violence and emergencies don't always happen in a classroom or during school hours. School safety measures cannot begin at first period and end at dismissal. Students, staff, and family members gather long before the bell rings and remain on campus long after it ends. School leaders must ensure our safety protocols extend to every minute a student is in our care—whether they are waiting for the bus at dawn or leaving a drama rehearsal after dark.

The Expanding Definition of "School Day"

The traditional school day is bookended by periods of significant activity that often fall outside the scope of standard security measures.

Before the Bell

Consider the start of a typical day. Morning bus routes begin while it is often still dark. Early drop-offs leave students waiting unsupervised near entrances. Teachers arrive early to prep for the day, often entering empty buildings alone. In these moments, the structured supervision of the school day hasn't yet begun, creating gaps in safety.

After the Bell

The activity doesn't stop when the final bell rings. Campuses remain buzzing hubs of activity well into the evening.

• Sporting events draw crowds of spectators, including visitors from other communities
• Drama club rehearsals, band practice, and other extracurriculars often run late, using specific parts of the building while others remain dark
• Tutoring and academic clubs keep small groups of students and teachers in classrooms

The key insight here is that after-hours activities often mean fewer administrators on-site, limited security presence, and staff supervising multiple areas at once. Students move more freely throughout buildings, and doors that are locked during the day might be propped open for convenience. Risk does not follow a bell schedule, and our safety plans shouldn't either.

School Bus Safety: The First and Last Line of the School Day

For nearly half of students, safety begins and ends on a bus. According to the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group Report (January 2024), about 44% of Ohio public school students ride a school bus. While school buses are statistically safe—involved in less than 1% of crashes statewide—they present unique challenges when incidents do occur.

Bus Driver Reality

Drivers are often the only adult on the vehicle, responsible for navigating traffic while managing student behavior behind them. The Ohio Bus Safety report noted that 62% of drivers reported feeling unsupported by administrators. They manage high-stress interactions daily, with the potential for escalated situations:

• Altercations between students
• Medical emergencies
• Traffic incidents and road rage
• Mechanical issues in remote areas

Bus drivers need more than mirrors and an overhead speaker to keep students safe. They need a direct, reliable way to call for help that doesn't rely on fumbling for a cell phone while driving.

After-Hours Activities: Reduced Supervision, Increased Vulnerability

When the structure of the school day dissolves, vulnerability increases. Consider an evening drama club rehearsal where one or two teachers are responsible for supervising 40 students spread across a stage, auditorium, classrooms, and hallways. It is impossible for those teachers to have eyes on every student at every moment.

After-hours events, especially highly-attended ones like high school football games, are seeing more altercations and disruptive incidents. This is partly because social media has transformed the landscape. Students can now plan to escalate situations outside school hours in ways that were never possible before, making it easier for incidents to unfold quickly and outside the view of staff.

Similarly, athletic events introduce variables that are difficult to control. You have visiting teams, referees, and families—strangers to your building—entering your campus. Access points are often left open to accommodate crowds.

The tragedy in Rhode Island highlights how quickly a situation can escalate. What police believe to be a family dispute turned violent, and others were caught in the proximity. Regardless of the cause, the need for rapid communication and a coordinated response is critical. When supervision is thin, communication tools must be strong. Staff members need to feel empowered to act quickly, knowing that help is just a button press away.

It's also important to remember that visitors and people who aren't familiar with the building won't have access to staff-only emergency alerting tools, and with the exception of parents, may not be signed up for emergency alerts. They still need a visible, quick way to call for help if something happens, because the faster an alert is sent, the faster help can arrive, and that speed can make all the difference in protecting lives.

What "Extended Safety" Actually Looks Like

Protecting students before and after the bell requires more than a single device or communication channel. It requires a coordinated safety framework that allows staff to request help, share information, and guide response– no matter where an incident occurs.

Discreet, accessible alert activation

Staff supervising bus routes, athletic practices, or after-school programs often don’t have access to a desk or office phone. Mobile-based alert tools and wearable activation options allow them to request assistance from anywhere, without leaving students unattended or needing to search for a phone in a stressful moment.

Fixed alert points in shared and public spaces

Students, staff, and visitors gather in hallways, gyms, auditoriums, and entrances– especially during events that extend beyond the school day. Wall-mounted and computer-based alerting options ensure help can be requested from key locations– or from any computer– on campus, providing coverage in areas where staff may rotate or visitors may be present.

Clear communication during high-attendance events

Sporting events, performances, and assemblies introduce large crowds, visiting guests, and noisy environments. Schools need the ability to deliver clear, targeted instructions to staff, students, and visitors using multiple communication channels, including on-screen messaging and direct notifications.

Centralized visibility for administrators and safety teams

When activities are spread across buildings, fields, and transportation routes, administrators need a single place to receive alerts and coordinate response. Centralized safety platforms help ensure the right personnel are notified and provide situational awareness across all locations where students and staff are present.

Flexible infrastructure that supports evolving safety needs

School safety strategies must adapt to changing schedules, new facilities, and emerging risks. Systems that support both mobile and fixed alerting– and integrate into a unified platform– allow districts to extend protection beyond classrooms without adding complexity for staff.

Funding Your Extended Safety Plan

Investing in comprehensive safety systems is a significant financial commitment, but resources are increasingly available to support broader, more flexible coverage. As school leaders recognize that safety responsibilities extend beyond classroom walls– to buses, extracurricular activities, and events– state and federal funding programs are evolving to reflect those realities. States are increasingly investing in safety infrastructure that protects students throughout the full school day and beyond. For instance, Ohio recently awarded over $10 million to support school transportation safety upgrades.

When applying for school safety grants, districts should consider the requirements and think beyond classroom walls. If funding supports emergency communication, consider systems with the ability to protect students wherever school activities occur– on campus, on buses, and at school-sponsored events.

Next Steps for Your District

Take a moment to evaluate your current after-hours safety plan. Does it rely on the same level of supervision as the school day? If so, it might be time for an update.

• Audit your coverage: Do bus drivers and extracurricular leaders have a direct line to emergency services?
• Review your technology: Can you communicate with visiting crowds during a sporting event?
• Involve your staff: Ask your coaches and extracurricular teachers where they feel most vulnerable.
• Explore available funding: Some state and federal programs support emergency communication, transportation safety, and campus safety infrastructure. Reviewing state safety grants, transportation safety initiatives, and school security funding programs can help districts expand coverage without relying solely on local budgets.

The Bottom Line: Safety Is Not Confined to a Schedule

The Rhode Island tragedy was not a classroom incident., and the threat did not originate in a school; but students and community members were still in harm's way.

Students and staff deserve protection before the bell, after the bell, and everywhere in between. As districts evaluate their safety strategies, it’s important to consider whether staff can request help from any location, whether communication tools support large or after-hours events, and whether administrators have clear visibility to coordinate response across all environments.

Identifying these gaps is the first step toward building a more complete safety framework. If your district is assessing ways to strengthen coverage beyond the classroom, our school safety experts at 911Cellular can help you evaluate your current approach and explore practical options to extend protection wherever students and staff are present.