Michigan District to Install Lockdown Lighting

Michigan District to Install Lockdown Lighting

Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) plan to install a new lockdown lighting system, which will include lights on the exterior of the buildings that flash during a lockdown to indicate that people outside should not enter the building.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • June 14, 2019

Trustees from the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) Board of Education approved Monday a bid to install a new lockdown lighting system at multiple campuses as well as the administration center and four support buildings.

According to Matt Wolgamott of Feyen Zylstra LLC, which was awarded the installation bid, blue lights will be implemented in all areas of assembly, including hallways, gymnasiums and cafeterias. The system can be triggered using the existing security system, phones in classrooms or lockdown switches in the main office of a campus.

The lockdown lighting system also includes blue lights on the buildings’ exterior, which will flash when a lockdown is initiated to let people outside the building know they shouldn’t try to enter.

A lockdown drill using the new lighting system was performed last month at Blair Elementary School, which served as the beta site for this project. Chris Wise, the TCAPS security systems manager who designed the layout for Blair’s installation, told the Record-Eagle it was “one of the most expeditious lockdown drills we’ve had yet.”

"It's a lot better notification if there is a lockdown versus what we have now. Currently, people hit the switch and teachers are yelling in the hallways and going over the radios," Wise said. "These are extremely noticeable in the building. Your eye goes right to them."

The installation of the lockdown lighting system is scheduled to begin Monday and be finished before the next school year begins. The project will cost the district almost $230,000 but is completely funded via a Michigan State Police safety grant.

"The purpose of the grant is to keep students safe — or as safe as possible — through the purchase of technology and equipment," Michigan State Police Lt. Travis House said. "Unfortunately, these instances are continuing to happen. We dare not turn a blind eye to that. If we want to truly take some action right at the places where these tragedies are taking place, we have to invest in that security."

The lockdown lighting system includes a pulsing siren that not only alerts people to an emergency but also serves as a distraction or disruption for an intruder or shooter. Wise told the Record-Eagle that the noise is designed to be “as annoying as possible” so people will leave the building as quickly as they can. The siren’s volume and tone can be adjusted at each individual building.

"If you're in the hallways, it's trying to push you out," Wise said.

TCAPS Superintendent Paul Soma said he’s pleased with the additional security provided by the new system.

"When that intruder has something on his mind, anything that disturbs it or gets him out of what he's focused on buys time," Soma said. "The time in these circumstances is seconds, but it saves lives."

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular