Florida Private School Adds Emergency Alert System
The system, which costs about $35,000, includes flashing alarms, emergency push button boxes and alert push button pendants.
- By Jessica Davis
- January 09, 2019
Jupiter Christian School installed a security alert system during winter break that can notify law enforcement in case of an emergency.
“The reduction of time and the response—if it saves one life, the system is worth it,” director of facilities and operations Jacob Godino told Fox 29 WFLX.
The alert system technology was developed by a Jupiter, Fla., father who wanted to help schools protect students after the deadly Feb. 14, 2018, Parkland shooting.
The system, which costs about $35,000, includes flashing alarms, emergency push button boxes and alert push button pendants.
"It serves two purposes - one is to distract the attacker and it also serves a purpose to alert the students," said Hector Delgado, president of ASR Alert Systems, which developed and installed the system.
Delgado said that the system empowers teachers by allowing them to immediately notify the police in case of an emergency instead of having to pick up a phone and manually dial 911.
When an emergency button is pushed, it takes 3 to 5 seconds for local law enforcement to be notified. The system also notifies designated people on the school’s campus.
"It will say Jupiter Christian School, it will give them the address and it will tell them what floor, what classroom the button was pressed," Delgado said. "Now that school resource officer who might be on one end of the school knows exactly where the alarm has been pushed and he can start or she can start moving.”
Jupiter Christian School is the first K-12 school in the U.S. to install the system.
According to Godino, it’s meant to enhance the campus’ current security measures, which include 2 armed guards, rather than replace them.
“We can’t stop medical emergencies but we can speed up the way we respond to them,” Godino said.
About the Author
Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.