Local district uses same safety technology used in mass school shooting in Georgia
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Although four people were killed in a mass school shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia Wednesday, a panic alarm system installed at the school may have saved more lives.
“When they had the shooting, it took them 120 seconds for the police to respond to the building. That’s an absolutely incredible feat,” said Normandy Schools Collaborative Superintendent Dr. Michael Triplett.
Triplett says the district began talking ing the Centegix safety technology in 2023 and right before school started this school year, all buildings were outfitted with Centegix. District staff and faculty each wear a badge that doubles as a panic button.
“Pick up your badge that’s already hooked up on you and click a button three times or eight times,” said Triplett. “The convenience of it is everything.”
The Centegix technology alerts Normandy’s security team in the building, by clicking the button on the badge three times, Triplett says. Tapping the button eight times will ping law enforcement agencies using GPS data from the button to signal the exact location of the threat down to the very hallway. Centegix also automatically locks down the school.
“Without a doubt in my mind, I think this [Centegix technology] that Apalachee instilled upon us 100 percent saved lives without a doubt in my mind,” said Stephen Kreyenbuhl a teacher at Apalachee High School.
School resource officers in Georgia who apprehended and detained the suspected gunman, Colt Gray, knew exactly where to go, thanks to this technology.
Part of this technology for Normandy Schools was funded by Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s $70-million he set aside for school safety upgrades.
“Although it was a tragic incident that happened in Georgia, I am encouraged by their response time and that’s a response time that everybody should yearn to make,” said Triplett.
After hearing about Wednesday’s mass shooting in Georgia, Triplett says, he immediately ed the district’s director of safety and security to make sure safety is tight.
Every middle and high school student goes through metal detectors, they’ve purchased three new security cars, added roving security officers and expanded surveillance cameras in the last year.
“Our board, along with the district and community, have really bought into making safety into our district our number one priority, even topping academics.”
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