Frequently a school or district doesn't know they have a keying problem until it's too late.
A door is locked, and no one has the right key. Or worse, too many people have a key that opens too much. The system still functions technically. But it no longer feels secure. Or logical. Or manageable.
And by then, fixing the system means spending money, disrupting operations, and in many cases, starting over.
We’ve seen this pattern more than once because keying is often treated like an afterthought—getting handled hastily after the major planning is done. Which means the most important access decisions are being made in the margins—when they should be part of the foundation.
Schools need clarity, control, and a plan.
In reality, keying is not about hardware. It’s about access. And access is about trust.
Who needs to get where? How often? With what level of oversight? These are not small questions. They shape how a school functions day to day—and how it responds in a moment of crisis.
At first glance, restricted keyways sound like they make life more difficult: there's more control, fewer copies, and overall tighter rules.
But in practice, they actually do the opposite.
The reality is that they make life easier for facilities teams because they create structure, accountability, and security.
A district can spend thousands each year on unplanned rekeys, when instead, they could implement a restricted system with structured access levels. Within a year, rekey costs drop significantly. Just as important, the team could finally say: “We know who has access to every space.”
Most schools don’t plan their keying systems. They inherit them.
By the time doors are being hung and hardware is being installed, the opportunity to build the system you actually want is gone. What you’re left with is whatever the spec called for—even if it doesn’t align with how your team actually uses the building.
This is where S.A. Morman steps in.
We help schools start with the end in mind before specifications are finalized, vendors are selected, and hardware is ordered.
Because once the cores are installed and the keys are cut, you’re committed.
It’s guiding the conversation before a mistake is made.
We partner with facilities teams to design access plans that account for how people really work—not just on opening day, but for years to come.
We build clarity into the system from day one—and we stay with you as that system evolves.
It’s about protecting your environment.
The schools that get it right don’t think about doors and keys. They think about how people move through buildings, how safety is enforced without becoming a burden, and how access shapes operations.
That’s what we help you do.
S.A. Morman & Co. brings more than 165 years of experience designing secure, efficient environments. We don’t just meet specs. We make sure the specs makes sense.
If you’re planning a new facility or reconsidering your keying structure, let’s have that conversation now—not after the hardware has arrived and the concrete has cured.
Because once a system is built, it will shape everything that comes next.
Let’s build a keying strategy that supports your school’s mission—not just your building.
Contact S.A. Morman about your keying solution.