A university in Maryland is the first in the country to order bulletproof whiteboards for their teachers to use to protect themselves if a shooting happens on campus.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore ordered 200 of bulletproof whiteboards for their teachers.
Hardwire LLC produces these bulletproof whiteboards, which are square-shaped and come in three different colors. Recent school shootings inspired George Tunis, who owns the company, to create a product that teachers can use to protect themselves.
School shootings have been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years. None of these shootings have occurred at UMES, school officials want to be as prepared as reasonably possible if that does happen.
“Classroom safety is not a pleasant topic,” UMES President Juliette B. Bell said in a press release . “Unfortunately, campus violence is a reality that we have to be prepared for, and this technology allows us to be proactive rather than reactive.”
Several universities in Maryland are working hard to improve their security measures. Campus police officers will receive more training, as well as body armor, the Baltimore Sun reports.
"This is so accessible,” UMES Campus Police Chief Ernest Leatherbury told CNN , "and it's not cumbersome."