Illinois School Districts Install Crisis Management System

  • Feb 25, 2009

Bloom Township High School District 206 announced recently that it and seven other districts are the first schools in Illinois to install the Rapid Responder crisis management system to protect students and staff.

Rapid Responder, from Prepared Response Inc., provides school security and public safety agencies with secure and instant access to critical campus information including floor plans, aerial imagery, evacuation routes and other important information via a computer.

The districts received a federal school safety grant in 2007 to install Rapid Responder which now protects 39 elementary, middle, high school and administration facilities in a total of eight districts. Prepared Response also provided emergency preparedness training for the districts. The other districts include: Brookwood 167; Chicago Heights 170; Ford Heights 169; CCSD 168; Sandridge 172; Steger 194; and SPEED 802.

“Maximizing the safety of our students and staff has always been, and always will be, our highest priority,” said Bloom Township District superintendent Glen Giannetti. “Educational success is easier when the environment is safe.

“We could not have done this without the dedication and cooperation of local police and fire personnel who spent days working with us and other districts on safety planning, and the personnel from our district and other districts who put in the time to make the buildings safer for students from their first day in kindergarten to their last day in high school. This truly was a team effort.”

“The safety of the students and staff is a major concern for these districts and we are proud that Rapid Responder can now be used during emergencies to help protect them,” said Jim Finnell, president and CEO of Prepared Response. “While these are the first school districts in Illinois to use Rapid Responder, the system is currently protecting more than 2,900 schools in 15 states.”

Rapid Responder was used at a Washington state high school to quickly contain a gunman and evacuate 2,000 students in 20 minutes and is protecting critical infrastructure across the U.S. Rapid Responder is endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association and is the only campus crisis management system Certified as a “Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology” through the Department of Homeland Security’s SAFETY Act Program.

Featured

  • Ransomware Attacks Rise for the First Time in Six Months

    Ransomware attacks have risen for the first time in six months, increasing by 28% month-on-month to 421 attacks. While overall attack volume remained below 500, the uptick may signal a renewed escalation heading into the year’s most active period for cyber criminals. Read Now

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.