County to launch transformative school safety radio network

Tech

Sep 5

The Kent County Board of Commissioners announced a $2.8 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant to the Kent County Sheriff's Office to implement Michigan's first county-wide 800 MHz school safety radio network.

"This radio system will give emergency dispatch, schools, and law enforcement a dedicated and effective tool to communicate critical, factual, and immediate information," said Stan Stek, Chair, Kent County Board of Commissioners. "That will help build a better, safer future for kids and teachers throughout our community."

Since receiving the grant, the Sheriff's Office has worked closely with school staff to ensure the system is operational before the start of the school year. With over 300 schools and 21 administrative offices participating, the 800 MHz radio system connects every K-12 school in Kent County directly to the County dispatch center.

The system's radios are programmed with specific school safety talk groups monitored by the dispatch center and school administrative staff. These talk groups enable a two-way communication network that allows school staff to request immediate police assistance during emergencies, such as an active shooter situation, and provide a direct line for dispatch to relay critical instructions to schools, including lockdown orders.

"In debriefings on school shootings given by federal and local law enforcement officials who responded to school tragedies, communication is consistently identified as the most significant point of failure," said Michelle LaJoye Young, Kent County Sheriff. "The inability of school officials to provide law enforcement with real-time information during critical incidents could result in needless injuries and deaths. This radio system will enable in-the-moment, ongoing 2-way communication between school administrators and law enforcement in emergencies, and it can save lives."

Agencies in communities across the country have documented that 9-1-1 systems can be overwhelmed with callers during critical incidents like school shootings.

The network will also allow the dispatch center to relay other urgent notifications to school districts, such as inclement weather threats or the need to alter bussing routes.