Mobile and Desktop Apps Aid Texas Districts in Digital School Safety

Mobile and Desktop Apps Aid Texas Districts in Digital School Safety

Texas School Districts have implemented a variety of school safety mobile applications, including Share911, Mutualink, and the Rave Panic Button app.

Texas school districts have been looking to implement measures to increase school safety and have turned to mobile and desktop apps for better safety communication.

Share911, Mutualink, and the Rave Panic Button app are just a few of the applications that Texas schools are using to stay up to date on safety.

James McDonald with Boyd ISD said Share911 is used within the school as a simple way to increase safety communications.

“Fortunately, we’ve been blessed for only having to use it for our training purposes right now,” McDonald said. “We had an extensive time in the fall training our staff over using Share911. The simpler you can keep it, that makes it easier for them to adapt and make it become a habit.”

Share911 is a school safety app that enables simultaneous notification of 911 and co-workers, giving employees a way to reach out to medical help, as well as people nearby them who may be able to help.

CEO Erik Endress told KXAN that districts can tailor alerts to fit their needs, so all campuses use the same language when reporting an incident. He said in addition, the response time should be minimized with the app.

“When our system’s activated, not only do they notify their co-workers, they’re also notifying police who also have this on their own phone in the car,” Endress said.

Texas City ISD have started to use Mutualink and the Rave Panic Button app for their application security. Executive Director of Security and School Safety Michael Matranga said he’s seen the effectiveness through training and one false alarm incident.

“One teacher pushed the button and within under a minute-and-a-half, we had seven deputies on scene already,” Matranga said.

The Rave Panic Button app has six different emergency options, which include fire, active shooter and medical. In addition, users can send anonymous tips to all school staff via text or email through the app.

“In these situations, time is the enemy, so what the panic button does is it condenses the time to reach 911, for 911 to get first responders there, to notify ISD police and to apprehend the threat and to look after the people who are potentially injured,” said Brian O’Donnell with Rave Mobile Safety.

The Mutualink app helps law enforcement agencies and districts share radio, voice and other data across their entities.

“We have a console that sits inside an administrator’s office so in case of an emergency, that administrator can view the video and share it out with any of the first responders,” said Anthony Ferguson, solutions representative for Mutualink.

About the Author

Kaitlyn DeHaven is the Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now

  • Turning Surveillance Into Strategy: AI’s Role in Driving Proactive Security

    Video surveillance has long been part of the campus safety toolkit, indispensable for investigating security incidents after they occur and a valuable tool for proactive deterrent. Read Now