Pinellas colleges get new panic alert system
FOX 13’s Briona Arradondo stories that Pinellas County Faculties is quickly making its newest security improve: switching to a brand new panic alert system known as Centegix Disaster Alert.
PINELLAS, Fla. – There have been a number of security modifications in colleges throughout the Tampa Bay space ever because the Parkland faculty capturing, and Pinellas County Faculties will quickly make its newest security improve with a brand new panic alert system.
An energetic menace in a faculty being reported on the SaferWatch app.
At the moment, academics and employees use a telephone app known as SaferWatch to alert the district of an emergency, however they’re switching to a easy panic button the dimensions of an ID card to save lots of lives.
What’s the new system?:
What we all know:
It seems like a bit of white card worn alongside an worker’s badge. It’s the district’s new panic button system, Centegix Disaster Alert.

The Centegix white badge educators will carry to alert to hazard.
“You merely simply strike a button a certain quantity of instances on the ID badge, and that may really provoke our whole lockdown course of for each campus, the district, and for regulation enforcement and emergency responders all through Pinellas County,” mentioned Sean Jowell, a faculty security specialist with the Pinellas County College District.
Jowell mentioned the varsity board authorised a $3.8 million contract with Centegix in December, saying goodbye to SaferWatch, a cellular app alert system they’ve used since 2021.
What educators say:
“I believe it’s been proved expertise like this, this kind for the convenience of use, for the muscle reminiscence, it’s going to save lots of lives,” mentioned Sean Jowell.
How this impacts your youngsters:
Why you need to care:
With the app, each worker should open it and comply with just a few steps to alert regulation enforcement if there’s a disaster. Jowell mentioned the Centegix button simplifies the method.

Pinellas County officers working a faculty security simulation.
“It’s possible you’ll be proper there the place you may’t entry your telephone; you wouldn’t entry your telephone. However that is quiet. It makes no sound, no noise,” mentioned Jowell. “So, in the event you run, you disguise wherever you go to, and if you’re within the strategy of working from one location to a different space of security, you may simply begin urgent on that button.”
When Pinellas County will implement the brand new system:
What’s subsequent:
Jowell mentioned the brand new system makes use of the newest security expertise and enhances the district’s present techniques.Â
In response to Centegix, when workers press that button, their exact location info is quietly despatched to the district right down to the ground and room. They’ll additionally discuss to emergency responders discreetly, a options that may matter if an emergency occurs within the classroom.
“We’ve got some employees that put on it on a lanyard, some employees that put on it on a belt loop like I do, daily it’s there,” mentioned Jowell. “It’s muscle reminiscence that I’ve; I simply should press the button down, and assistance will come.”
Jowell mentioned there’s a failsafe in-built simply in case the button is pressed accidentally.Â
The college district goals to roll out the brand new system to all 14,000 workers within the coming months earlier than the tip of the varsity yr in Might.
The Supply: Reporting for this story was performed by FOX 13’s Briona Arradondo.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: