Lexington County’s largest school district is adding a new technology that would allow teachers and staff to lock down their buildings with the press of a button.
Lexington School District One is planning to roll out the CrisisAlert system as soon as mid-October. District employees will receive a wearable badge with button that can be pressed during an emergency.
In addition to locking down the school, pressing the button will alert law enforcement that there is an emergency at the school.
“It empowers our teachers, our staff members,” Chris Ellisor, director of safety for the district, said at a board of trustees meeting on Sept. 17. “They can lock a school down in a moment’s notice, and that’s what’s key for me.”
How it works
Instead of reaching for their phone and sending a text or making a call, the technology gives teachers a hands-off option for responding to a crisis. The badge, powered by batteries, can also be used to alert first responders of a medical emergency or fight.
The CrisisAlert system doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi or a cellular signal. Each time the button is pressed, a location is delivered on a digital map and a notification is sent to 911 and local law enforcement.
A spokesperson for the school district wasn’t immediately available to provide more details on how the system works. In Richland County School District Two, which began using the system last year, pressing the button three times would alert school administrators and other on-campus staff that a teacher needs assistance.
Pressing the button repeatedly, in the event of a campuswide emergency, would place the school on lock down and alert the authorities.
Lexington School District One has already held 13 training sessions this year, with more than 3,000 employees on active shooter and standard response protocol, as well as the CrisisAlert system.
The system was created by Centegix, an Atlanta-based technology company. It was used earlier this month to respond to a deadly school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, and has been implemented in more than 40 states.
Officers in Georgia credited the technology with helping them respond quickly to the shooting.
Lexington School District One is using money from its 2023-2024 capital projects fund to pay for the new system. Future subscription fees will be paid from the general fund.