Olathe Kansas Schools Upgrade Classroom Security with Multiple Schlage Products

  • Jul 22, 2014

Olathe Kansas Schools Upgrade Classroom Security with Multiple Schlage ProductsAllegion PLC, a provider of security products and solutions, announced that the Olathe Public School District is improving classroom security and simplifying key control by replacing multiple brands of locks on classrooms and other doors with Schlage locks and a patent-protected Everest 29 key system

Previously, the district used key systems from three different manufacturers, which made key control difficult and compromised security. The problem was compounded when some systems were no longer supported by their manufacturers and others had reached their capacity, allowing no room for further expansion.

"Whenever a new school was built, it ended up with the lock system that was bid for that job and the different types on each building made it difficult to maintain effective key control," explained the district's lead carpenter and locksmith Tim Keyes. "Some of the key systems had been in place so long that it was difficult or impossible to know who had keys and maintenance also had become troublesome."

Faced with this situation and concerned about the rising trend in violent incidents in schools, Olathe instituted a proactive review of its options for protecting its students and staff. As a result, it is in the process of replacing locks with Schlage products and implementing a patent-protected Everest 29 key system.

Since the Everest 29 key system provides patent protection against unauthorized duplication through 2029, Keyes said that the district will be able to maintain effective key control with confidence. Another advantage of the new key system is that it is compatible with restricted Schlage Primus XP keys already being used in some applications. Keyes added that the service he has received from Allegion on this and other products, including LCN door closers and Von Duprin exit devices, also was important in the consideration process.

According to Keyes, the Schlage L-Series mortise locks and ND-Series cylindrical locks used on Olathe schools include a classroom function that allows teachers to lock the door from within the classroom during an incident instead of being exposed to danger when locking a door in the hallway.

Currently, locks are being replaced in Olathe's 34 elementary schools with its nine middle schools and, eventually, its four high schools to follow. Although most of the locks being upgraded are on classroom doors, the district also is replacing locks on other openings such as custodial and equipment closets. All locks are Schlage with full-size interchangeable cores, which simplify rekeying, Keyes points out.

The Olathe Public Schools USD 233 was formed in 1965 with the unification of five districts and now includes 52 schools and related learning centers. Today, it is the second largest school district in Kansas, with an enrollment of more than 29,000 students and is expected to continue growing for the next 30 years.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • 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.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • 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.