Panic buttons on computers, apps on teachers’ cellphones and upgraded phone systems have been added to local schools with the goal of getting help fast when needed.
Recently, Center Grove school board members approved spending nearly $300,000 on a new paging system for all the elementary schools.
The new system was needed to replace the old systems at the schools that were aging, and in some cases failing, Superintendent Richard Arkanoff said.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
But the new system also has new features, including a button teachers can press to let the office and police know if they are safe in a lockdown situation, Arkanoff said.
School officials have been working on a plan to replace the system for a while, as part of the overall goal to upgrade safety and security at the schools, Arkanoff said.
Other school districts have added other measures as well, either with new phone systems or other technology.
Greenwood schools got a new phone system last school year, which gave them more options, Superintendent Kent DeKoninck said.
The school district can make calls to all parents to give out information, but can also get more information about calls being made by school staff. For example, if someone calls 911 from any phone, the administration office is notified, he said.
At Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson schools, teachers were able to download an app to be able to connect their phones with the central office, so they can easily contact administrators if needed, Superintendent Tim Edsell said.
And at Clark-Pleasant, teachers all have a panic button on their computers, which would alert the school office to any issues in the classroom, Superintendent Patrick Spray said.
Their phone system also will alert the administrative office, including emails sent to administrators, of emergency calls being made from any phone in the school system, he said. They will know exactly what phone it came from, and know something is going on and react as fast as possible, he said.
