Staff at Shawnee Mission schools are receiving alert button badges in the latest security efforts

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) – The cry for help in the Shawnee Mission School District is growing faster.

The district will receive new badges that make alerting during an emergency much easier.

In a unanimous vote, the district joins the list of Johnson County schools prioritizing safety and rapid response.

The alert system is already in use in the DeSoto, Olathe and Blue Springs school districts.

David Stubblefield, the deputy superintendent, said it will cost $2.6 million and will be paid for through capital expenditures.

“It’s just an extra layer of security for our staff and our students in our community,” Stubblefield said.

Each staff member wears a badge made by Centegix, an Atlanta-based company, equipped with GPS so that any person calling for help can be easily located when the time matters most.

“We believe that every second counts, so every staff member has the ability to make a call for an emergency or emergency situation.”

This is how it works: press the button three times to alert the school safety team. If you press the button eight times or more, the emergency services will be immediately alerted and a call will be made for closure.

“I’m guessing, but in total we’re at several thousand per year,” said Brent Kiger, executive director of Safety Services, Olathe Public Schools, about the number of times the button has been pressed.

Olathe Public Schools has had the badges for it more than three years and Kiger said in that time they’ve seen it do wonders for their crisis response.

“It’s fantastic technology. It’s really impressive how quickly it can get the alert to our admin team, and then just the precise location accuracy is critical,” he said.

Kiger said he has seen his staff feel safer having it with them, and he is happy to see other schools using this technology.

“Knowing that, if needed, she is reassuring, whether it’s inside the school or outside the building.”

Shawnee Mission School District said they should have the badges and staff trained by spring of next year.