As the tutorial began on Sept. 25, students and staff across campus were blasted with an alarm siren from the school’s newly installed digital clocks and speakers, with their screens displaying the message LOCKDOWN ALERT, signaling the start of a school-wide lockdown drill.
Starting this year, the district has implemented an upgraded new security system.
The previous security system included outdated security cameras, which were installed in 2016. These cameras were only accessible through a desktop monitor and server. Principal Greg Louie also noted that as occasional break-ins continued to persist, the inability to monitor real-time threats and identify security risks suggested a change needed to be made from the old system.
This prompted an implementation of new security cameras this year, as well as a discussion with the board about a panic button. Ultimately Informacast was the system that was picked. Louie stated that it had been implemented because the district saw a need for a more efficient communication system.
Staff members have the ability to have Informacast’s app installed on their phones. Through this app, they will be able to notify emergency services and the administration with a touch of a button.
The app instantly alerts 911, saving time from manually dialing the office or law enforcement. In addition, whenever a teacher uses the app for an emergency, their location will be broadcast and tracked by other staff and first responders will be notified accordingly.
With Informacast, the school is hoping to phase out an outdated “all-call system” where emergencies and contacts were reported from the main office only. Besides its advanced security system, the Informacast system is also able to communicate to students through each classroom’s digital clocks using both audio and a digital message.
According to Louie, though other districts may not have the Informacasts’ exact communication model, they will be able to benefit from the information gathered within the testing of SHS’ Informacast to then enhance their campus’s security and communication system.
Reports on security improvements on how the system is working are early and many lessons remain to be learned, Louie mentioned.
