Alyssa’s Law Compliance at Pembroke Pines Charter Schools

After the Parkland School shooting, Pembroke Pines needed to know if their new PA system would also function as their emergency notification system.

PEMBROKE PINES, FLORIDA January 3, 2022

Problem

Pembroke Pines Charter Schools needed an emergency notification system that was compliant with Florida’s Alyssa’s Law requirements. Following the Parkland shooting in a neighboring school, the charter school re-evaluated their new IP-based PA system with security in mind.

Alyssa’s Act (AKA Alyssa’s Law) states:

• Panic buttons: “Each elementary school and secondary school served by such a local educational agency is equipped with at least one panic alarm for use in a school security emergency (including a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situation).”
• Alert Law Enforcement: “Manual activation of a device intended to signal a life-threatening or emergency situation requiring a response from law enforcement.”

Solution

Wahsega Panic Buttons met Alyssa Act requirements of “manual activation of a device,” that when pressed, activates the InformaCast® system to immediately call law enforcement. The InformaCast system is also capable of sending alerts to students and faculty in the case of “non-fire evacuations, lockdowns, or active shooter situations” using Wahsega IP Displays.

“Not the original intent, but we couldn’t have a better solution for an untimely event. It really was a simple solution that wasn’t difficult to implement.” says Matthew Kefford, Director of Technology Services Department at Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.

Wahsega Small IP Display Installed in a Pembroke Pines Charter Schools Hallway.

Results

Pembroke Pines Charter Schools became fully compliant with Alyssa’s Law by implementing InformaCast and Wahsega hardware:

• 400+ IP Panic Buttons
• 2,200+ Wahsega IP Speakers & Displays with InformaCast

Pembroke Pines remains committed to campus safety, and as of the writing of this article, Pembroke Pines is installing an additional 100+ IP Panic Buttons, IP Speakers and IP Displays.

2021-2022 Update:
As of the 2021-22 school year, public schools in Florida are now required to install mobile panic buttons in accordance with Section (s.) 1006.07(4), Florida Statutes (F.S.)