Tight budgets are no excuse for failing to be proactive with school safety. In fact, school leaders must be especially committed to prevention and security programs during times when economic woes are increasing stress on kids, their families and school staff. Parents will forgive educators if their school's test scores drop. But they are much less forgiving if their children are hurt in an incident that could have been prevented or better managed. Attorneys and the media will be equally relentless. Educators must be proactive, responsible school safety leaders even when forced to make cuts. This article discusses security and emergency preparedness strategies in the post-Columbine era, offers low-cost and no-cost safety strategies for schools, and suggests ways on strengthening school safety communications.