CLINTON, Tenn. — As technology evolves, equipment and training to keep students safe at school are also evolving. Over the past several decades, ways to lockdown schools during possible threats have changed.
“After Columbine, we lock our doors from the inside,” said Abbey Kidwell, the assistant principal of Clinton Elementary School.
At Clinton Elementary School, staff also have access to a school-wide alert system at their fingertips just by wearing a "Centegix badge." If there is an emergency, a staff member can push a button on their badge a certain number of times.
The number varies depending on what the emergency is. During a medical emergency, a notification will go to certain staff member’s cell phones and computers. But during a lockdown emergency, notifications will be sent out and an alert will air over the intercom.
“It comes on and says for you to lock down the building, and stay away from doors, and open areas, and prepare to defend yourself,” said Jenna Sharp, the Clinton Elementary School principal.
That alert will also immediately be sent straight to the police, cutting down response times.
The badge also has a device on it that allows police and other staff to pinpoint the exact location of the teacher who sent out the alert.
The police department can also issue an alert for the school to be placed on lockdown. School staff says while it’s easy for the teachers – it’s also easy for the students.