The Courier of Montgomery reports that in the upcoming school year Conroe ISD will implement panic alert technology on all their campuses. The alert will allow those using it to summon police, fire and medical personnel through the press of a button on their cell phone.
The system has undergone a pilot test. Assistant Superintendent of Operations, Chris McCord, said the Rave Panic Button system was tested at Grand Oaks High School and York Junior High successfully.
The program will be covered for three years by way of a grant and funding from the Montgomery County Emergency Communications District for $88,147.
The communication district will be taking care of part of the cost and funds from a more than $116,000 Silent Panic Alert Technology grant covering the rest.
The okay from the school board lets the district put the technology into effect two years before it is required by state law.
Senate Bill 838 was passed by state legislators back in May which makes it a requirement for school districts to install a panic alert system that would make instant contact with law enforcement, fire departments and health departments by the 2025-26 school year.
During the first of the year, other school districts passed along that they would implement the Rave system for the upcoming year. Those districts include Willis, Magnolia, New Caney, Montgomery and Splendora.
The catastrophic shootings at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde was an event that spurred education officials in Texas to propose this kind of technology as a security move.
