Upgrading Electronics

Upgrading Electronics

New Jersey school improves its locking system

Located about 20 miles northwest of Newark, Livingston Public Schools serve almost 5,800 students with an instructional staff of 524 in its K-12 system. Its nine schools include six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Some of these buildings date back to the 1940s and 1950s while others were built within the past few years, including a new science and athletic building at the high school.

To help secure their schools, the Livingston Public School system started with an initial installation of several off-line, computer-managed locks and has moved to online electronic locks with multi-technology readers that accommodate its proximity card system while also providing flexibility for future generations of credentials.

Past Success Predicts the Future

Livingston’s move into electronic locking began several years ago when it installed Schlage computer-managed, offline locks on exterior doors at its elementary schools. Paul Ko, manager of buildings and grounds, said that this was done to provide a single, controlled point of access in which staff members could access with a proximity card reader.

Recently, the district added Schlage AD-400 wireless electronic locks and XceedID proximity credentials. These locks provide online, real-time access control for exterior doors and are managed by the same software as the existing offline locks within a single database. These new locks are wireless, which made installation easier than running wires to each door and provided flexibility in locating locks to meet future needs.

These locks are designed with easily changeable reader modules so they can be upgraded without changing the entire lock. They combine all the required hardware components into one integrated design that incorporates the electrified lock, credential reader, request-to-exit and door position switches, and tamper guard.

The most extensive system is at the high school. Ko said that six entrances at the high school are controlled by these locks to provide convenient access from multiple parking lots while helping to protect students, teachers, staff and school assets.

They provide the flexibility needed to accommodate other people’s schedules, such as athletic coaches, who need after- hours access to specific facilities. He added that the system’s software makes it easy to update access privileges and schedules, as well as manage locking and closing schedules.

Present-day Security

Livingston Public Schools use a combination photo identification badge and proximity card credential. Ko said that these are carried on a lanyard by all faculty and staff members and also are used for other purposes, such as to access a district-wide, networked copier system.

For mechanically-keyed locks on interior doors, this school is installing Schlage ND-Series cylindrical locks with an Everest key system. These locks include a function that allows a teacher to secure a door from inside a classroom, rather than having to go into a corridor to lock the door during an emergency situation. In some cases, hardware with this function is being installed on exterior doors that have electronic locks to facilitate a quick lockdown when bringing students in from recess.

Most Livingston schools are keyed so that all teachers in the school have the same key. At the high school, for example, keys are divided by sections or departments, so the science and music department might be keyed differently. If a key is lost, this approach reduces the number of locks that must be rekeyed by restricting them to one building, department or area.

Other hardware solutions that support Livingston’s school security include LCN door closers that ensure doors are properly closed and latched; LCN Auto Equalizer power door operators that provide easier access for those with disabilities; and Von Duprin XP99-Series exit devices that combine greater security with emergency egress.

Other Types of Security

In addition to the access control system, Livingston restricts visitor access to one secure entrance equipped with either a camera and card reader or a buzzer and intercom.

“We acknowledge them and also photograph them going in and out,” Ko said. “We also have an expanse of cameras throughout the building so we can monitor the hallways.”

According to township code, Ko said that the schools conduct a fire and lockdown drill every month.

“In each lockdown drill, the police will conduct a different version, possibly an interior or exiting drill, and at a different time of day to reflect real situations,” Ko said.

As with most school security systems, Livingston’s plans continue to evolve, combining improvements and upgrades in electronic and mechanical solutions with video monitoring and staff involvement.

This article originally appeared in the June 2014 issue of Security Today.

Featured

  • The Key to Wellbeing in the Office

    A few years ago, all we saw in the news was the ‘great resignation.’ Now we have another ‘great’ to deal with. According to CBRE, 2023 was the start of the ‘great return’ as office workers returned to their normal offices after working from home. The data shows that two-thirds of all U.S office buildings were more than 90% leased as of Q2 2023. Read Now

  • Failed Cybersecurity Controls Costing U.S. Businesses $30 Billion Yearly

    Panaseer recently released ControlWatch and the Continuous Controls Battle: Panaseer 2025 Security Leaders Report examining the cost of cybersecurity control failures and the impact of growing personal liability for security failings on security leaders. The report analyzes the findings of a survey of 400 security decision makers (SDMs) across the US and UK. It shows that security leaders feel under increasing pressure to provide assurances around cybersecurity, exposing them to greater personal risk – yet many lack the data and resources to accurately report and close cybersecurity gaps. Read Now

  • The Business Case for Video Analytics: Understanding the Real ROI

    For security professionals who may be hesitant to invest in video analytics, now's the time to reconsider. In a newly released Omdia report commissioned by BriefCam (now Milestone Systems), the research firm uncovered a compelling story: more than 85% of North American and European organizations that use video analytics achieve a return on investment within just one year. The study, which surveyed 140 end users across multiple industries, demonstrates that security technology is no longer just for security — it's a cross-organizational tool that delivers measurable business value far beyond traditional safety applications. Read Now

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3

  • 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. 3