BURR RIDGE, Illinois (CBS) — The technology used in Georgia to send out an alert about a school shooting this week is also being used by a Chicago-area school district.
At Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, staff members called for help Wednesday morning after two teachers and two students were killed, using technology built into their ID badges. Investigators said the system prevented an even greater tragedy.
The same technology has also been in use for about two years in Pleasantdale School District 107 in the western suburb of Burr Ridge.
“In an incident like this, seconds count,” said Dr. Dave Palzet, superintendent of Pleasantdale School District 107, “and the sooner you lock down the building, the safer people will be — and the fewer casualties there will be.”
The technology is built into the badges all school staff wear every day, allowing anyone to call for help and activate a lockdown.
“What’s the quickest way to lock down the building if there’s an incident?” Palzet said. “This is it.”
The technology is called Centegix and Palzet says it’s a kind of wearable panic button.
“They push this button and the cavalry comes running,” he said. “It connects directly to 911.”
A different number of clicks triggers a different type of alert. All school computers then show a map that shows exactly where in the building the alert has been activated.
“Speed cameras are going off, computers are taking over, there’s a noise in the building. Everyone knows it’s time to lock down,” Palzet said.
Bellwood School District 88, also in the western suburbs, recently began using Centegix.
“It’s such a shame that we have to think about these types of situations now, that we have to be prepared,” said Dr. Victoria H. Stockton, superintendent of Bellwood School District 88. “In situations where a child, for example, goes into anaphylactic shock or chokes on something or has one of those medical emergencies, it’s helpful as well.”
According to the directors, one of the biggest advantages of Centegix is that every school employee can use it.
“Any staff member, from the principal to the janitor to the school director, can declare a lockdown if necessary. That saves valuable minutes when it comes to an incident at school,” Palzet said.
Ultimately, school administrators say Centegix is focused on enabling everyone to keep the school safe.
“And so as leaders of the building, we want everyone to go home,” Stockton said. “We want them to arrive at school safely, and we want them to leave safely and go home to their loved ones.”
Tara Molina
