At the Findlay City Schools Board of Education meeting Monday night, the board voted to utilize an immediate active shooter notification system called SafeDefend in their schools.
SafeDefend utilizes multiple ways of communication in the event of an active shooter situation as well as provides staff with crisis management options and training, including but not limited to defensive force and first aid.
Each classroom and large common spaces throughout the district will be equipped with a safety box in classrooms and activation modules for hallways.
The system provides instant notification in multiple ways in cases of an active shooter or life-threatening crisis.
Once a staff member activates the device, an instant notification is sent to dispatch along with a text message, email, and voice alert over the PA that is sent to all law enforcement officers,
firefighters, and staff within that building, and administration across the district.
The system identifies the exact location of the crisis down to the school and specific room where the system was activated.
SafeDefend is designed to protect students and staff by reducing law enforcement time, ensuring law enforcement, firefighters/ems, and staff have real-time crisis information until help arrives.
SafeDefend has been installed in more than 300 schools in nine states and their team has trained over 20,000 teachers and staff on best practices for crisis management and active shooter response.
“The safety and security of our staff and students is Findlay City Schools highest priority,” said school board president Matt Cooper.
“We know safety and security requires a layered approach and we will continue to be proactive in evaluating new and additional ways to increase the safety and security of staff and students.
The partnership and collaboration between FCS and the City of Findlay Police and Fire Departments while installing SafeDefend will significantly increase our response capabilities while decreasing response times for a life-threatening crisis.”
Findlay City Schools will be the first school district in Ohio to install the SafeDefend system.
Learn more about the system by watching the school board meeting below, or by clicking here for the company’s website.