DCSS Announces Campus Security Measures

Douglas County School System Announces Enhanced Campus Security Measures
Posted on 03/14/2019
New Manchester High School Uses Badge for School Entry

Douglas County Schools are introducing a series of electronic technologies designed to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors. These new security technologies allow schools to manage campus access and to enable educators to connect immediately with first responders in an emergency.


In February, New Manchester High School served as the first school to launch a new card access system. This technology now allows students and teachers to use their new identification badges to gain access to specified areas of campus. Students and staff now tap their identification card to a building access sensor, which grants them secure access to a campus door. 

Assistant Superintendent of Operations Kwame Carr says the new access control system allows the administrators to control who can enter campus and the hours they have access to campus.  “The Douglas County School System is eager to provide our students and educators with an extra layer of security during the school day,” Carr says. “Our goal is to have each of our high schools equipped with the same identification card technology that will enable our school system to maintain a secure and locked campus throughout the school day.” 

Carr says New Manchester High School served as a pilot school for the program. The program has been successful and positively received by students, staff, and parents.  “The system looks promising for our district, particularly at the high school level,” Carr adds.

In addition, the Douglas County School System has purchased new technology to keep students safe inside their individual classrooms. Atlanta based tech company Centegix is installing Crisis Alert technology with plans to have all schools outfitted and tested by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

Centegix’s Crisis alert system equips every staff member in a school with a device that can trigger a school-wide alert instantly. The device allows a teacher to signal for administrative help in case of a classroom medical or disciplinary emergency. It can also trigger a school-wide lockdown with visual and audio notifications, notifying law enforcement immediately.

Superintendent Trent North hopes the new technology will reassure students, teachers, and parents. “Our community trusts us to keep over 25,000 students safe every day,” Superintendent Trent North says. “We are proud to partner with companies committed to keeping our students and staff safe. By having these systems in place, it will allow us to remain focused on providing a safe, secure learning environment for all.”

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