I.P schools get new emergency alert system

Nassau County is bringing increased safety and security to local schools, including the Island Park district, by introducing a new application for smartphones. The new emergency alert system will connect to police, other first responders and the administration office.

Three years ago, the county budgeted $3.2 million in grant money for about 4,000 push-button, two-way microphones to connect to 911, but a lack of enthusiasm among educators and some problems with the contractor led to the scrapping of the plans.

Steven Skrynecki, chief of department of the Nassau County Police Department, explained that the push-button system would contact a third party, whereas the new app system connects directly to the police. It can give first responders GPS locations, maps of the schools, video of the scene and access to remote-operated door locks, and the alert will broadcast on a loudspeaker at the police Communications Bureau. The idea is to give real-time information to responding officers.

There are plans for the responders to be able to access the alerts and other information on their smartphones, tablets and the units in their cars, according to Skrynecki.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said, “I urge school officials to join us in keeping our kids safe, as Nassau police are at the ready to implement this program at all public and private schools countywide.”

The app is already up and running in the Merrick and Bellmore school districts. In Island Park it may be functioning in a few weeks. Other districts that have signed up include Bethpage, Farmingdale, Herricks, Levittown, Lynbrook, Manhasset, Nassau BOCES, North Shore, Oyster Bay, Sewanhaka and Valley Stream, and county officials hope to eventually connect all districts in the county.

At the Superintendent’s Conference Day, Lee Mandel, of IntraLogic Solutions in Massapequa, discussed the district’s other security improvements, including the new Nighthawk surveillance program, with teachers and administrators. There are now security cameras on all school properties that interface with the police, and the system is monitored by ILS. Security personnel can turn on floodlights, email message alerts and even talk to people through mounted loudspeakers. The system will save the district money, officials say, because it will eliminate the need for security guards and custodians working overtime to provide schools 24/7 security.

The county will hold an informational session on the app in the near future, according to Donna Krause, spokeswoman for Oceanside schools. She added that district officials plan to attend that session before considering the app.