If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.
Security Services for Schools
Security, safety, and investigative services for schools in Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley.
I am Zach Baumgart, a paramedic and former federal special agent with more than 25 years of public safety and law enforcement experience. About me
Independent Advice, with Nothing to Sell
I do not sell security guards, alarms, cameras, or any other products or equipment. I only provide my services, so my advice is never tied to something I am selling. My only interest is giving you honest advice and the best client service.
How I Help Schools
I serve private schools of every type and size, including independent and faith-based schools, from preschool through 12th grade, and from single campuses to multi-campus operators.
Security Director on Demand
- On-demand security advice for administrators and school leadership, without the overhead of a full-time employee.
- I act as your dedicated liaison with law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies, and I coordinate with school resource officers (SROs) where your school has them.
- I conduct independent, confidential investigations of incidents, allegations, internal policy violations, and safety concerns.
- I give travel security advice and practical training for field trips and international student trips.
- I conduct threat assessments and threat investigations, and I develop threat mitigation plans as part of your contract.
Threat Assessment and Management
- A U.S. Secret Service analysis of 67 disrupted plots against K-12 schools from 2006 to 2018 found that students were often best positioned to notice warning signs and report them. Source: U.S. Secret Service, Averting Targeted School Violence (2021)
- I assess and investigate threats from irate, threatening, or aggressive parents, students, and others, including custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts, and help you decide how to respond before a situation escalates.
- I develop threat management and mitigation plans, I can serve on, support, or evaluate your school's threat assessment team, and I coordinate with law enforcement as appropriate.
Emergency Procedures
- I audit, test, and review your current security measures and emergency procedures.
- I develop and update contingency plans for threats, Active Threat Response (commonly referred to as active shooter or armed intruder training), severe weather, missing students, medical emergencies, student-parent reunification, athletic events and other large events, and response procedures for allegations of staff or student misconduct.
- I help you prepare, test, and drill your lockdown, evacuation, and severe weather plans, using the standards Virginia sets for public schools as a benchmark.
- I conduct practical staff training and run emergency preparedness drills for staff and students.
Physical Security Audits
- An independent audit of your facilities, property, and current security measures.
- I evaluate campus buildings, athletic fields, perimeter fencing, entry points, lighting, bus loops, pick-up and drop-off areas, after-hours access, and visitor, parent, and contractor check-in and access procedures.
- I look at how your campus operates during arrival, dismissal, class changes, and events, not only when it is empty.
- I identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and risks, and I develop actionable, cost-effective solutions.
Background Investigations
- Rigorous, multi-jurisdictional background screening of teachers, administrative staff, coaches, bus drivers, substitutes, contractors, and recurring volunteers.
- I use proprietary databases that are available only to licensed firms, and I analyze the results myself as a former law enforcement officer to find red flags that automatic and instant background check services miss.
- My investigations go beyond basic checks with 50-state criminal history checks, open-source and social media research, and subject and witness interviews to verify facts (depending on the level).
- I can also screen student workers, interns, and volunteers under 18 with parental or guardian consent.
How It Works
Initial Consultation
A confidential consultation by phone or virtual meeting lasting about 15 minutes. The consultation is complimentary.
Scope and Contract
I recommend the services that fit your school's needs, and a written contract sets out the scope and terms.
Work and Reports
I work with you and your team to conduct the agreed-upon work, provide regular updates, and produce final reports.
Ready to talk it through? The initial consultation is complimentary.
My Experience
I spent more than 25 years in public safety and federal law enforcement, working as a paramedic, a firefighter, a local law enforcement officer, and a federal special agent. As a federal special agent, I provided threat assessment and management for senior officials and worked on emergency planning for U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. As a paramedic, I have cared for patients in emergencies.
I also managed the U.S. Department of State's sex crimes investigations program, so I have the skills to confidentially, discreetly, and thoroughly handle allegations regarding staff and student conduct. I am a Nationally Registered Paramedic (NRP) and a licensed Virginia private investigator (DCJS), and I was trained as an instructor by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Training Center, so I know how to teach staff to respond calmly. Learn more about my background.
Where I Work
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all five services?
No. Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract.
Who does the work?
I do all of the work myself. I do not hand your project to subcontractors.
Do you sell guards, cameras, or alarms?
No. I do not provide security guards, armed personnel, or school resource officers, and I do not sell products. Instead, I provide services such as Security Director on Demand, threat assessment and management, and emergency procedures to help you prevent and respond to problems. I can also audit your campus, investigate concerns, and train your staff to carry out your plans, and I coordinate with your SROs where your school has them.
How much does it cost?
The cost depends on the services you choose and the size and needs of your school. As an example, a medium-sized, single-campus school would pay approximately $1,500 per month over the course of the year under a Security Director on Demand contract and would receive: a full review and updates to all emergency plans, monthly meetings and updates, monthly drills and/or training as needed, reviews of operations to ensure compliance with security plans, unlimited consultations on investigative matters, up to two initial threat assessments every month, and the ability to contact me on an as-needed basis during typical business hours.
The services listed above are just one example of what the Security Director on Demand contract covers. During our initial consultations, I can work to tailor the contract to your specific needs. For example, I can add ten Level 2 background investigations to use over the 12 months.
Can you work around the school day and academic calendar?
Yes. I schedule audits, staff training, and drills around your school day and your academic calendar.
Do you help after an incident?
Yes. I conduct independent, confidential investigations of incidents, allegations, and safety concerns, and I report my findings to you in writing.
Do you work with private, independent, and faith-based schools?
Yes. I serve private schools of every type and size from preschool through 12th grade, including independent and faith-based schools. I tailor my work to the needs of your school.
What does Virginia require of schools?
Virginia's school safety laws are written mainly for public schools. They require threat assessment teams, annual updates to crisis and emergency plans, safety audits, and regular fire, lockdown, and tornado drills, along with cardiac response and bus evacuation drills. Requirements differ for private schools, but those standards are a useful benchmark. I help you plan, run, and evaluate your drills, review the results with your staff, and update your plans so your program meets the requirements that apply to your school. I do not provide legal advice, so I recommend confirming the details with your school attorney.
Can you help our threat assessment team?
Yes. I can be a member of your school's threat assessment team, or I can review and evaluate the team. I can also train team members and staff to recognize and report concerning behavior, and assess and investigate specific threats. I can also help you build a threat assessment process that fits your school.
How do you help with irate parents, custody disputes, and unauthorized pickups?
I review your dismissal, pick-up, and check-in procedures, train your staff to handle custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts calmly, and develop plans for the situations that follow. When a parent or another person becomes threatening, I assess and investigate the threat and help you decide how to respond before it escalates, and I coordinate with law enforcement as appropriate.
Can you investigate allegations of staff or student misconduct?
Yes. I conduct independent, confidential investigations of allegations involving staff, volunteers, students, and others, and I report my findings to you in writing. Serious allegations involving a child should be reported to law enforcement or child protective services right away, and I coordinate with them as appropriate. I do not provide legal advice, so I recommend consulting your school attorney about your obligations.
Can you help with athletic events and school trips?
Yes. I review security and emergency plans for athletic events, performances, and other large events, and I give travel security advice and practical training for field trips and international student trips.
Prefer to Start with One Project?
Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract. Incidents and allegations can often lead to or also require private investigations, and schools can often benefit from staff training, background investigations of staff and volunteers before they start, threat assessment, and travel security briefings for student groups on international trips. See my full list of services.
I serve schools across Northern Virginia, including Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and towns such as Ashburn, Leesburg, Herndon, and Vienna. See my full service area.