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

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • 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.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.