In a significant move to enhance emergency response times, the Pinellas County School Board has approved a new panic alert system for all 132 schools in the district. The multi-million-dollar initiative will roll out early next year, ensuring schools can respond more swiftly to emergencies.

The new ‘Crisis Alert Wearable Solution’ will equip staff with badges that include a button to press during an emergency, replacing the app introduced in 2022. This decision came in response to concerns from teachers and staff about the app’s potential to track their movements at all times, even when they were not working.

“We continually review our systems to maximize school safety, and we believe this request will significantly enhance the safety of our students and staff,” said a member of the School Board.

Safety Specialist Sean Jowell explained the new system’s benefits: “Staff will have the badges on them at all times, ensuring immediate access during emergencies across all campuses.”

The app was originally implemented following Alyssa’s Law, signed into law in 2020, which mandates mobile panic alert systems capable of integrating with emergency dispatch centers for all Florida school districts. This law was named in memory of a victim of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy.

With the new system across Pinellas County Schools, sensors in the badges will provide law enforcement with precise locations during emergencies, allowing for quicker and more efficient responses. “Identifying or being notified of a critical incident at one of our campuses will be quicker, and law enforcement response will be more effective,” Jowell added.

Board member Eileen Long emphasized the importance of the new system: “Unfortunately, we live in a world where danger is all around us, but this system will help teachers feel more secure without the need to run in emergencies.”

Officials believe the new system will enhance existing safety protocols without negatively impacting the learning environment. “This will be a force multiplier for our current safety and security measures while maintaining a welcoming and respectful climate,” Jowell explained.

The program is expected to cost nearly $4 million over a five-year period, with the ultimate goal of creating a safer space for students to continue their education.

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(Image credit: Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times)