Interview with Chuck Wilson, Co-Founder, Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS)

1)Tell us something about your career journey or personal experiences that isn’t included in your official bio.

In addition to my work in school safety and the technology industry for 40 years, I’ve been to a Major League Baseball game in every ballpark. I’ve also been to 42 of the 62 national parks.

2) What are the key components of the PASS guidelines, and how do they address the unique safety challenges faced by schools?

The PASS guidelines are built on the concept of layered security and multiple tiers of elements and solutions to the safety plan for each school. We then add 7 levels of components that are applied at each layer.

3) How can schools effectively use the PASS checklist tools to assess and improve their safety and security measures?

Thousands of schools now use this checklist to evaluate what they have in place and working, what they should budget for, and what technology might be in need of repair or replacement. It is an incredibly useful tool for budgeting and building out a comprehensive school safety plan.

4) What are some common mistakes schools make when implementing safety guidelines, and how can they avoid them?

The number one mistake is believing that it can’t happen here and therefore not making safety a top priority. The second most common mistake is not following the tier continuum and layered approach. You don’t want to rely on just one solution at one layer or purchase non-code compliant devices as a quick low cost alternative.

5) Can you share a real-world example of a school that successfully applied the PASS guidelines to enhance its safety?

Every day we hear from schools how following the PASS guidelines have prevented incidents, stopped violence, detected banned items, identified vandals and perpetrators. In addition we hear constantly from schools who almost installed the wrong technology in the wrong places. They are grateful that we make this available at no cost.

6) How do the PASS guidelines integrate with modern communication technologies, such as 911 systems and emergency notification platforms?

The communications and digital infrastructure guidance does just that. We provide expert advice on proper selection and placement of devices, recommend testing and training procedures and provide resources to support the integration of the solutions.

7) What can attendees expect to gain from your session at IWCE 2026?

To become very familiar with the PASS organization and the incredible resources we provide.

8) What are you most excited about for IWCE 2026, and how do you think the event will impact the industry?

I think it’s all about reliable and effective methods of communications. We must ensure that help is on the way when we need it most.

Chuck Wilson's sessions: https://agenda.iwceexpo.com/speaker/wilson-chuck/81735