CT educators open to new alert options for safety amid threats closing schools, creating fear
The recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia that took four lives, as well as the growing number of threats of violence across Connecticut, have reignited the discussion around alert systems and added security in schools throughout the state.
In Georgia, the school's panic button system, CENTEGIX , is credited for saving lives as authorities had the suspect in custody just seven minutes after the initial emergency call.
Using the technology for the first time, teachers and staff were able to alert authorities to the emergency quickly using buttons on badges they were wearing.
The technology used by CENTEGIX can find the exact floor and room level of the location of the alert. It works outside of the building in parking lots and on sports fields as well, and they have direct access to 911 and local public safety, according to the company's website.
This type of technology has caught the eye of some education leaders and educators in the state.
"I had not heard of this technology before the shooting in Georgia when every teacher had a panic button. This is the evolution of where we are at. It allowed for a faster response time and that is something for us to look at. We will have to look at cost and how we manage it," said Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association teachers' union.
"In Connecticut, a number of protocols have been focused on entrances and exits. That's because it showed our vulnerabilities after Sandy Hook," said Dias, a math teacher at Manchester High School for the last 23 years.
Dias said that includes visitor controls such as guests being buzzed into the school and having to provide identification upon entrance. She added that many schools have "panic buttons" in main offices to alert authorities in case of an emergency.
Fran Rabinowitz, the executive director of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents , said she has not heard any talk of a statewide alert system program being discussed at this point, but said that doesn't mean it isn't happening.
"As technology advances, it could give us better opportunities to keep schools safe," Rabinowitz said. "We are going to investigate every opportunity to take advantage of it."
She added that cost could be a hurdle for such an investment.
"I see it being challenged financially but Boards of Education, state departments and school municipalities are going to have to work together to find the solution," Rabinowitz said.
On supporting a statewide program for alert systems, Rabinowitz said she would need more time to learn about the technology and other factors.
"Districts have invested huge amounts of money into their own safety programs, and I would not like to just obliterate them. But, if it was something that was feasible and cost-effective I would like to look at it," Rabinowitz said.
Speed in response seen as key
"The quicker we can alert our administration or authorities to a potential problem or shorten the response time — the better off we are," Dias said. "It seems from the initial report that it's a simple, nonintrusive tool and I'm sure our friends in Georgia didn't think they would be using it a week after it was installed. But it seemed the system did exactly what it was supposed to do with a quick, speedy response from a teacher hitting a button on a card."
Hartford Public Schools district spokesperson Julia Skrobak said the district is implementing a Raptor Alert pilot program this year in two Hartford schools — one middle school and one high school.
"The Raptor Emergency Management program assists schools in the preparation, response and recovery from emergency situations," Skrobak said. "The Raptor Alert is one component of the program. Raptor Alert allows staff members to initiate a mobile panic alert to instantly request help from their mobile devices. Additionally, Raptor Alert automatically sends detailed, situation-specific alerts so everyone knows how to respond. It also allows for connecting with 911 and group messaging."
Skrobak said Hartford Public Schools use the Raptor Visitor Management system across all of the schools to run background checks and screen visitors before they enter the building. She would not reveal which schools are using the program this school year.
Southington Public Schools Superintendent Steven Madancy said the district has protocols in place designed to quicken the response time between the school and law enforcement.
"I have heard about this story (in Apalachee) and I've had a parent reach out about it and all I can tell you is that our kids are safe," Madancy said. "The hard part is we can't go into detail about all of our safety measures. We keep close to the chest the features that we have for safety purposes."
Madancy said there are card access systems set up at all entrances of all schools. He added visitors have two layers before getting into the building. He added with just a touch of a button, the school can go into lockdown if there is trouble inside or outside of the building.
Madancy is also part of an interagency safety committee that meets once a month. Among the participants are the Southington School District administration, Southington Police and Fire Departments as well as YMCA leadership, the health department and the town's emergency coordinator.
"I tell parents that these meetings aren't just happening after school shootings are in the news. These conversations are happening all of the time," Madancy said.
Madancy also said the district has a strong partnership with Southington police, and that they are there any time a concern is raised in the community or district.
"That makes life a lot easier," Madancy said. "Overall, I'm really proud of what we are doing as far as student safety. I'm confident in what we do."
Meriden Superintendent of Schools Mark D. Benigni said Meriden Public Schools have security measures in place and are always looking for more.
"We have sensors on doors to know when they are left ajar and panic buttons in the main offices of our schools," Benigni said. "We are always looking at additional security measures and we take advantage of the state's security grants for funding."
Iris White, acting superintendent for Bristol Public Schools , sent a letter to the school community on Thursday sharing a few of the safety protocols implemented throughout the district.
"All Bristol Public Schools building exterior doors are secured at all times to prevent unauthorized access during school hours," White said. "Interior classroom and program space doors can be secured and locked as well. All visitors must check in at the school entrance and present ID before entering the building and are scanned through the Raptor background check system."
In addition to secured entrances, White said the district has invested in video surveillance systems that monitor key areas throughout the interior and exterior of schools. According to White, the system allows administrators and teachers to swiftly respond to any incident and share real-time information with security staff and first responders. "We regularly review footage to ensure our safety measures are effective," White said.
In addition, the district partners with local first responders, including the Bristol Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Bristol Burlington Health District, to improve emergency protocols and response.
"This collaboration enhances our emergency preparedness and ensures that our staff is well-versed in protocols for various scenarios," White said. "In addition, Bristol Public Schools collaborates regionally and nationally with the various organizations including, and not limited to, the Connecticut State Department of Education and the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
"We believe that safety is a shared responsibility. Our staff undergoes ongoing training in emergency protocols, and we engage students in regular safety drills to prepare them for different situations," White added. "By fostering a culture of awareness and preparedness, we empower our students to contribute to a safe school environment."
Drills remain at districts' discretion
Earlier this year, there was proposed state legislation to limit the number of active shooter drills during the school year. The law would have reduced the number of drills from the current state standard of three per school year to one. The bill failed in March.
Some representatives wanted to reduce the number of drills because students may feel unnecessary trauma or stress and the drills could place insecurity in them.
"For me, I thought it was fine to keep it up to the districts and if they thought once a year was enough. It leaves it in the hands of leadership, and I was comfortable with that," Dias said. "If a district wants to do three, four or five drills, it's up to them. It doesn't tie the hands of the district and allows discretion.
"I've been doing these for over a decade, and you don't want to instill fear into your youngest students, you just want them to follow directions," Dias added. "When we have a crisis, the No. 1 thing we need is the children to listen and follow directions. It's far more important for the adults to have that experience and I'm not sure how much small children get out of a rehearsal."
Dias said some people may be a little desensitized to the drills, but the number of shooting incidents has kept it very real.
"It's the reason we have the drills," Dias said. "We haven't had enough of a breath from violence in schools to become desensitized. We are doing everything we can, and then we have another shooting. With every shooting, it's jarring for every educator. I remember talking to other teachers after Uvalde and we were brought to tears.
"No one is free from this. It happens in every community," she added. "We are never given a break because it's always happening and teachers in particular internalize that. It's a reality of our work. It's a continued ongoing threat to our schools."
Dias said teachers are always thinking ahead and thinking about how they can protect their students and themselves from an attacker — even in ways that don't require as much technology.
"As a math teacher, our graphing calculators are heavy and I'm aware of objects I could throw at them," Dias said. "I used to have a big glass paperweight that was the size of a baseball that I could throw. I also have a bookcase near the door that could be slid in front of the door. It's odd to think of your classroom like that. But it's part of our world at this point.
"As teachers, we love what we do, and we don't necessarily spend all of our days thinking about this," Dias added. "We know what we need to do. We know our responsibilities. The work we do with our students is a labor of love."
