CENTEGIX | Education
Ohio School Safety Standards
CENTEGIX | Education
Ohio School Safety Standards
Mobile panic button implemented in a Northeast Ohio school district
At Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, a new safety device—the CENTEGIX CrisisAlert wearable panic button—will let staff notify law enforcement of a security threat at the school with the push of a button.
Ohio Senate Proposes Alyssa’s Law: SB313
In September 2024, the Ohio Senate introduced Senate Bill 313, also known as Alyssa’s Law. If enacted, it would require public and chartered nonpublic schools to implement a wearable panic alert system.
The wearable panic alert system would be required to “be capable of integrating with local public safety answering point infrastructure to transmit 9-1-1 calls and mobile activations and initiating a campus-wide lockdown notification.”
The law would also mandate that “each district board and governing authority shall provide each staff person in a school facility with a wearable panic alert device that allows for immediate contact with local emergency response agencies,” as well as ensure that all school staff and personnel receive training on “the protocol for and appropriate use of the panic alert device.”
Additionally, each district board and governing authority would be required to ensure “all security data within a school facility is accessible by a local law enforcement agency and coordinate with the local law enforcement agency to establish appropriate access protocols. Accessible security data includes cameras, maps, and access control;” and “any records, information, photographs, audio and visual presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendations, or consultations or portions thereof relating directly to the physical security or fire safety of a school facility or revealing security or fire safety systems, that are accessed or held by an agency under this section are confidential and are not public records.”
Safety Grants for Ohio Schools
In 2022, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that nearly $58 million in grant funding would be made available to 708 K-12 schools in 57 counties. The money is earmarked for security upgrades that enhance safety for students and staff.
K-12 School Grant Program
K-12 School Grant Program is designed to help schools with physical security expenses, including:
- security cameras
- public address systems
- automatic door locks
- visitor badging systems
- exterior lighting
CENTEGIX CUSTOMER HIGHLIGHT:
Part of the funding can be applied to the installation of high-tech safety alarms. Schools in Galion City School District have already installed such a system. During a lockdown drill, strobe lights flashed and alarms buzzed, and a recording announced, “Lockdown! Students maintain silence! Do not open the door!”
In a potential school shooting situation, extra seconds can mean the difference between life and death. Jennifer Allerding, the district’s superintendent, said that installing the CENTEGIX school safety system drastically improved the schools’ disaster notification process.
For the first five years, the cost of installing and running these high-tech Ohio school safety solutions at four schools will be covered by state grants.
Ohio School Safety Center
The Ohio School Safety Center was formed in 2019 to assist local schools and first responders with preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from threats and acts of violence. The center takes a holistic approach to support schools through:
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- effective policies and procedures
- staff training
- community involvement
- interagency involvement
The website is a clearinghouse of information covering grants, floor plan guidelines, bus and transportation safety, cyber safety, training opportunities, and more.
One of the Ohio school safety resources is the Safer Ohio School Tip Line, (844) 723-3764. The Tip Line is anonymous and available to receive calls and texts 24/7. Incidents to report include:
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- bullying
- withdrawn student behavior
- verbal or written threats observed toward students, faculty, or schools
- hazing
- weapon/suspicious devices on or near school grounds
- gang-related activities
- unusual/suspicious behavior of students or staff
- self-harm or suicidal sentiments
- any other school safety-related concerns
The center also provides access to a collection of data-driven Ohio school safety standards that address the non-academic needs of students and help provide a safe and supportive learning environment:
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- school climate guidelines
- a comprehensive system of learning supports
- anti-harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies
- safety and violence prevention curriculum
- school safety plans
Safety, Accountability, and Violence Elimination Act
The Safety, Accountability, and Violence Elimination (SAVE) Act was enacted in 2008 in order to reduce the rate of violence in Ohio schools. It called for a comprehensive approach to school safety that included the state Attorney General’s office and the Ohio departments of:
- Education
- Public Safety
- Mental Health
- Addiction Services
Agencies worked together to create a statewide anti-violence network and to establish a crisis response team.
In addition, the SAVE Act created a grant program designed to help schools develop violence prevention and intervention programs. Funds could be used to hire school resources officers and counselors. The act also allowed schools to use federal grant money to install security equipment.
Learn more here.
Student-led Clubs
In the 133rd General Assembly, the SAVE Act was amended to authorize the creation of student-led violence prevention clubs for grades 6-12. The change was effective on March 24, 2021.
Each club must:
- Be open to all members of the student body.
- Have at least one adult advisor.
- Implement suicide and violence prevention and social inclusion training and awareness activities.
- Provide opportunities for student leadership development.
Peer groups, including SAVE Promise Club and Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network, are ways to offer students a sense of belonging. Students are encouraged to be active partners in keeping their friends and schools safe.
Learn more here.
Focusing on Threats
Ohio school safety standards include free, evidence-based training programs for school threat assessment teams. The Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Ohio Department of Education, and the Attorney General’s Office make sure approved programs:
- identify behaviors, signs, and threats that may lead to a violent act.
- Determine the seriousness of a threat.
- Develop intervention plans that protect potential victims and address underlying problems that could cause threatening behavior.
For more information, visit the Ohio School Safety Center’s Threat Assessment page.
Innovation Grants & School Safety Grant Program
In addition to the nearly $58 million in grants available as part of the K-12 School Grant Program announced by Gov. DeWine, Attorney General Dave Yost announced that nearly $12 million in grant money is available for the 2023-24 school year.
Innovation Grants of up to $20,000 can be used to purchase equipment that links schools and law enforcement agencies. Examples include:
- systems allowing immediate camera access to responding law enforcement
- silent panic alarms
- shot detection technology
- license plate reader alerts for registered sex offender vehicles
- protection order alert systems
- wanted dangerous person alert systems
Safety grants are also available to train resource officers, train teachers and staff, purchase educational materials, and more.
In addition, schools have been able to apply for funds from the School Safety Grant Program to pay for physical security enhancements as well as inspection and screening equipment. The deadline for 2023 has yet to be set.
CENTEGIX Safety Report
2024 School Safety Trends: Saving Seconds Saves Lives
Discover our latest, comprehensive analysis of school safety incidents gathered from the CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ usage data for the 2023-2024 school year in our report 2024 School Safety Trends: Saving Seconds Saves Lives.
See what our safety report reveals regarding safety in the classroom, state safety legislation, and critical components of school safety solutions. Download your copy today.
Princeton City Schools Introduces High Tech Safety System, CrisisAlert, for Potential Threats
After a concerning safety incident in Fall 2022, Princeton City Schools immediately began looking at more ways to keep students safe. They chose CENTEGIX’s CrisisAlert.
The district says the system gives them eyes and ears in every school. “We hope we never have to use it, but we have it here for peace of mind,” said Princeton Superintendent Elgin Card.
Read the full story here.
CENTEGIX in the News
Galion City School District releases video detailing school safety improvements
Local school district staff can soon trigger lockdowns with push of a button
Loudonville-Perrysville schools to install campus-wide safety system
Customer Spotlight: Akron Public Schools
At Akron Public Schools, they understand the importance of a multi-layered approach to safety. Hear from Dr. Steve Thompson, Akron Public Schools’ COO, as 19 News’ Jim Nelson asks him how they’re spending state grant money intended for student safety and security.
Hear what they’ve implemented so far and how the CENTEGIX CrisisAlert system fits into their overall safety plan in this video.
How Are Your Resources Being Spent?
CENTEGIX protects over 12,000 locations across the country. We can protect yours, too.
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™, featuring CrisisAlert™, accelerates your response to emergencies. We’ve built the CENTEGIX Safety Platform to support you in the single most critical factor of incident response: time. Because in an emergency, every second matters.
Discover federal resources to fund new safety and security initiatives in your district by exploring federal funding resources for school safety.
Hear from Our Educators
We engage with teachers and staff every day to understand how CrisisAlert supports them, and here’s what they’ve shared:
A student was having trouble breathing and her vision was beginning to black out. We don’t have service in our building and it can be difficult to get ahold of the office staff, so having something to immediately alert them of emergency was incredibly helpful in a very scary situation.
I had a student who was refusing to follow directions and became very defiant. This student was beginning to get aggressive. I used my badge to alert our campus security monitor to remove the student from the situation. It is a very useful tool when the response was as immediate as it was.
A student was having a severe panic attack, trouble speaking, crying, not able to answer my questions as to what was wrong with her. I used the device to call for administrative help and it worked like it was designed to. Help arrived in a matter of seconds. I saw firsthand how well it works.
The Safety Platform™ Meets Grant-Funded Safety Measures
The CENTEGIX Safety Platform is an emergency incident response safety system that features wearable panic buttons, digital mapping software, and reunification and visitor management capabilities and generates accurate, usable data. The Safety Platform solution uses visual strobes, digital messages, and automated intercom announcements to inform everyone of a campus-wide incident and to instruct them on actions they should take. The Safety Platform meets the security infrastructure needs the Ohio school safety grants aim to address.
The Safety Platform features an analytics dashboard that assists administrators as they make safety and security decisions. A data set is generated when a staff member uses their wearable badge to request assistance. Administrators can better understand where and why and under what conditions. These administrative decisions, enabled by Platform data, contribute to the “positive and safe climate” that the safety grants aim to foster.
The CENTEGIX school safety platform provides robust and uninterrupted communication between staff members, administrators, first responders, and students. Unlike other emergency incident response systems, the Safety Platform’s technology precludes adoption and connectivity challenges. It runs on a dedicated IoT network; it’s not susceptible to Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity interruptions. And because the CrisisAlert mobile panic button is worn along with an ID badge, 100% of staff members use it. This high adoption rate means that every staff member at every location on campus can request help when they need it. CrisisAlert generates accurate location data for every alert, no matter where on campus. Therefore first responders know exactly where to go during an emergency. In many instances, this kind of rapid response can prevent tragedy.
These critical features of the CrisisAlert badge and Safety Blueprint from CENTEGIX ensure an immediate response:
Desktop takeover notifications for staff mean campus-wide alerts are never missed.
Location accuracy enables rapid response.
The system immediately connects the parties best prepared to handle the situation.
Wi-Fi and phone outages have no effect on the system.
Wearable security badges are easily accessible, lightweight, and wearable.
CENTEGIX Safety Platform can help school districts and LEAs enact these measures, making students and staff safer. The Safety platform school safety solution helps create a climate of safety by enabling staff members to request help immediately, from anywhere on campus, in any type of emergency. Under these conditions, teachers can focus on student needs, and students can focus on learning.
CENTEGIX is the leader in incident response solutions. Our Safety Platform is the fastest and easiest way for staff to request help in an emergency, from the everyday to the extreme. CENTEGIX innovates technology to empower and protect people, and leaders nationwide trust our safety solutions to provide peace of mind.
Championing Safe Schools with Educators and Educator Associations
Discover the Safety Platform
Safety solutions that prioritize speed for the best outcome.
Mapping and locating capabilities provide the precise location—of emergencies, visitors, and safety assets.
A visitor management system screens and locates visitors on your campus.
Protocol development to plan for rapid incident response.
CENTEGIX CrisisAlert vs. Mobile Apps
CrisisAlert eliminates vulnerabilities related to app-only solutions and enables rapid incident response to all emergencies.
In an Emergency, You Need CrisisAlert™
Adverse situations can happen at any moment—from everyday crises such as medical emergencies, severe weather, and physical altercations to extreme situations that threaten your entire campus. The faster you get help to the right location, the better the outcome.
See how our CrisisAlert wearable mobile panic button empowers staff to get help instantly in an emergency.
Ready to Connect with a CENTEGIX Specialist to Learn More?
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