Plainfield Schools: Wireless Security to Be Installed This Fall

All District 202 schools and facilities should have a new wireless security system in place and operational by the middle of October, as part of a plan to increase security in light of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting last December. 

Related story: Plainfield Schools Beef Up Security with Wireless Alarm Systems

Last spring, the district approved buying a package of wireless devices including:

• Yellow “emergency stations” to be located in public spaces throughout the schools which students and staff can easily utilize during an emergency
• Mobile wireless pendants that activate the emergency alarm system for key administrators to wear
• Wireless desk mounted emergency buttons that will be strategically and discreetly located in easy reach of key office personnel.

High schools will each have about 30 of the emergency stations. Elementary and middle schools will each get about 20.

Following the Sandy Hook tragedy, District administrators worked for five months with the Plainfield and Joliet police departments and the Will County Sheriff’s department to research new security options to complement what the district already does.

District 202 has worked with its law enforcement partners for several years to tighten security and already takes numerous steps such as locking school doors during the day; requiring visitors to check in at the main office; and having students do eight safety and security drills each year, including several unannounced intruder drills under police supervision.

Work began over the summer to install the security packages and coordinate them with existing alarm systems and fire department protocols, said Aux Sable Middle School Principal Dr. Ed Boswell, who has overseen the security project from its inception last winter has also developed training programs for staff. As well, students will learn about the new systems when they return to school later this month. Boswell last year served as director for middle school administration. 

Alarm Detection Systems, District 202’s current security vendor is installing the new emergency system at no extra cost in trade for a five-year extension to its current contract. District 202 pays about $220,000 to ADS for annual maintenance. 

The new security equipment and installation would cost another district at least $170,000, not counting monthly maintenance monitoring costs.

“These new alarms are just one more piece in what we think is a pretty good security plan for our schools and buildings,” Boswell said. “We are always looking for cost effective, efficient ways to make our schools and offices safer for our students and staff.”