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
Wahsega Call/Panic Button and Single Channel Sound Reinforcement Panel Installed in a Pembroke Pines Charter Schools Classroom.
“Safety is the biggest advantage with Wahsega. We are now way ahead of the county in terms of security.” says Matthew Kefford, Director of Technology Services Department at Pembroke Pines Charter Schools.
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:
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.)
What’s on your mind?
Products
Wahsega Call/Panic Button
Wahsega Single Channel Sound Reinforcement Panel
Wahsega Extra Large IP Display with InformaCast
Wahsega Large IP Display with InformaCast
Wahsega Small IP Display with InformaCast
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