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

  • It's Show Time

    I am one of those people that likes to see things get bigger and better. As advertised, ISC West is going to be bigger (more exhibitors) and better (more attendees). It’s show time in Las Vegas. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

  • SIA Releases New Report on Operational Security Technology

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has released an impactful new resource – Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST. Read Now

  • Cyber Overconfidence Is Leaving Your Organization Vulnerable

    The increased sophistication of cyber threats pumped by the relentless use of AI and machine learning brings forth record-breaking statistics. Cyberattacks grew 44% YoY in 2024, with a weekly average of 1,673 cyberattacks per organization. While organizations up their security game to help thwart these attacks, a critical question remains: Can employees identify a threat when they come across one? A Confidence Gap survey reveals that 86% of employees feel confident in their ability to identify phishing attempts. But things are not as rosy as they appear; the more significant part of the report finds this confidence misplaced. Read Now

  • Mission 500 Debuts Refreshed Identity Ahead of Security 5K/2K at ISC West

    Mission 500, the security industry’s nonprofit charity dedicated to supporting children in need across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, has unveiled a refreshed brand identity ahead of ISC West. The charity’s new look includes a modernized logo with refined messaging to reinforce Mission 500’s nearly decade-long commitment to serving the needs of children and families in crisis. Read Now

    • Industry Events
Most   Popular

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance.