Educational leaders throughout the state of Texas have been looking for ways to increase safety in and around K-12 schools. In October, the state’s Legislative Budget Board and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) authorised more than $17 million in grants so that schools can purchase and install panic alarm systems. An additional $400 million in funds is expected to be available in 2023 for a wider range of school safety enhancements.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is and will always be our number one priority. Our school community should be focused on learning, not worrying about their safety,” said Andrea Shepard, associate director at Montgomery County 9-1-1. “Montgomery County 9-1-1 and School Districts firmly believe that Rave Panic Button is the right solution for the times, and we are proud to be seen as leaders in the state and to serve as a resource for others looking to advance school safety.”

Prior to the recent statewide push, Montgomery County 9-1-1 and School Districts researched, vetted and purchased panic button technology – ultimately choosing one of the country’s most widely deployed solutions for its schools, so that educators, staff, 9-1-1 dispatchers and first responders can activate a rapid, effective response to any type of school emergency. The Rave Panic Button app that Montgomery County selected is designed to be a fast, smart, reliable technology, and according to Motorola, is utilised by thousands of schools in 46 states. It has been successfully utilised by the Willis Independent School District (ISD), located within the county, since 2018.

Summoning police assistance quickly, and helping on-site personnel be informed and engaged throughout an emergency situation, can make all the difference when seconds count. When an authorised user activates the Rave Panic Button app, 9-1-1 and key school employees are quickly notified so that first responders and users who have deployed the app are simultaneously informed about the emergency type and incident location.

The Rave Panic Button is part of Motorola Solutions’ Safe Schools ecosystem of technologies, which help schools to secure campus perimeters, manage access to buildings and seamlessly coordinate with law enforcement. The ecosystem includes access control, video security, body-worn cameras, critical communications, command center software and weapons detection technologies.