AUSTIN (KXAN) — Marble Falls Independent School District is launching a life saving tool that enhances school safety this school year.
The district has partnered with FiveStones Safety to install and train district personnel on the new CENTEGIX crisis alert system.
“99% of the time this system will not be used for the worst case scenario. But God forbid you need it, that one time, that is why you have it,” said Rick Hoover, who is in charge of safety and security for Marble Falls ISD.
The school has installed an alarm system along with flashing lights and audio systems at all their campuses. All employees will wear badges that allow them to activate the system.
“Every employee will have one of these (badge) and every employee can do a couple of things with these badges,” Hoover said. “They have the ability to call for help if there is a medical emergency”
In a medical emergency the person who activates the badge can be found using a GPS system.
The badges can also alert students and staff — through different colored lights — about an evacuation, lockdown, a shelter in place or to secure themselves inside or clear the halls.
When the alarms go off they are either connected with campus administration or emergency crews.
“It gives us a direct line to 911, to the Marble Falls Police Department, to our sheriff’s department, to all of our local responders,” Hoover said.
Mary Ford, chief marketing officer with CENTEGIX, said they are adding these systems everywhere.
“We are now in more than 12,000 locations across the country,” Ford said. “It is also used to protect healthcare facilities such as hospitals, we protect government buildings and hospitality situations, as well as some general retail.”
Marble Falls ISD said it has trained staff how to use the system.