After using Blue-U Defense for campus security training and safety since 2021,
the school is switching to Synergy 911. Chief Operating and Financial Officer Tara Gohlmann worked with Director of Facilities, Safety and Transportation Derek Bross, and Director of Security and Transportation Kathleen Murphy, to plan and implement the change.
While searching for a company to replace Blue-U, the school focused on making sure they fit the community and could cater to its size, Mr. Bross said.
“The biggest challenge was finding the right group that would fit our community well and could support our needs,” Mr. Bross said. “Many folks are doing this type of work with basically the same philosophy; however, getting a consultant that could scale to suit our needs was an important part of the switch.”
Headquartered in Franklin, Massachusetts, Synergy 911 is better equipped to help schools like the Upper School (US), compared to Blue-U, which is located in Hancock, New Hampshire, Dr. Gohlmann said. Synergy 911 was heavily recommended by peer institutions.
“Milton Academy has used them for over a decade and has had positive things to say,” she said. “The main reason we moved from Blue-U to Synergy 911 was because Blue-U was a really small shop. They only had two people. We really struggled trying to get them scheduled to come to see us because it’s a long trip for them.”
Synergy 911 has a larger number of representatives, making scheduling easier.
“They have a much more significant network of individuals that support schools in their efforts to do the security training,” she said. “So, for example, most of the training that we’re doing with faculty and staff in open meetings next week we’ll be able to do at the same time, rather than having them go from campus to campus and having to schedule around that.”
The safety of the school’s campuses is the top priority, Dr. Gohlmann said. Synergy 911 will work alongside the school’s internal security team. The school is also in the process of hiring an Associate Director of Security to support response to security issues, train individuals, and oversee and coordinate fire drills.
“Ms. Murphy and her work with the Cambridge Police Department are incredibly important. This is a shift that hopefully will help with training, but the core security remains intact and really strong.”
For students, the security will look similar, except the school is now being supported by a new group, Upper School Director Jessica Keimowitz said.
“The truth of the matter is that our core safety plan remains in place in terms of swipe cards and locking doors and coverage at all three campuses, in terms of monitoring who’s in and out and guest visitor passes,” she said. “Our hope and our plan is to make sure that we have more regular training for all members of the community, students, faculty, and staff.”
Last year, Blue-U’s fall training received positive reviews from both students and faculty, Ms. Keimowitz said.
“I think they did really good work [and felt] like at least we’re talking about it. We’re doing something. We have experts coming in.”
Nandita Aggarwal ’25 believes that the training was a good way to inform the school.
“I thought the Blue-U workshops were helpful because I didn’t know much about what to do during a lockdown, so I thought it was an effective and time-efficient safety measure that the school added.”
President of the Women in National Security Club Aanika Mohta ’25 agreed that security training is important for incoming students to learn about safety measures in case of emergencies.
“I think that it was a very strong switch for the school and it helped protect the school.”
Although the change to Synergy 911 was an administrative decision, Aanika hopes that there will be opportunities to collaborate and educate about women-specific safety in the future.
“I do see opportunities to collaborate on campus, such as enhancing specific security for women as well as doing more targeted security,” she said. “Obviously security plays a very important role in student life, and if students are not able to go to school without feeling safe, it can really impact their learning.”
Aanika believes safety is essential to learning.
“I see security as a really integral part of learning and the school has really made some great changes to ensure its students are prepared and safe.”
A student security workshop, administered by representatives from Synergy 911, is scheduled to be held before Winter Break, according to Ms. Keimowitz.
