In this featured piece by CT Insider, the outlet reports that Conard High School in West Hartford is piloting InformaCast, a new lockdown system that combines mass notification with immediate two-way communication between the school and local police. Eric Dency, director of security for West Hartford Public Schools, told the Board of Education the system marks a dramatic improvement over the district’s previous setup, using both audio and visual alerts, including strobe lights for areas like tech ed rooms where students may be wearing headgear. Once activated, police can listen in or speak directly with the school to understand the nature of an emergency. The system is being tested at Conard before rolling out to every school in the district throughout the year.
Key Takeaways
- Conard High School in West Hartford is piloting InformaCast, a mass notification and lockdown system, before rolling it out districtwide.
- Eric Dency, director of security for West Hartford Public Schools, said the system allows immediate two-way communication between the school and police once activated.
- The system uses audio and visual alerts, including strobe lights, to reach students and staff in areas like tech ed rooms where headgear might block sound.
- District officials tested the system multiple times over the summer before rolling it out for real use.
- The rollout is part of a broader school safety initiative that also includes a new secure entry vestibule at Norfeldt Elementary School and additional staff training with West Hartford police.
Original Story
Conard High School is piloting a new lockdown system that sends out mass notifications and immediately opens communication between the school and the local police department.
The system, called InformaCast, is being used at the high school before being implemented across the West Hartford school district.
Eric Dency, director of security for the school district, told the Board of Education on Tuesday that it’s a “dramatic improvement” over their older system.