Case Study Highlights Texas District’s Campus Security Upgrades

The Taft Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently partnered with Intech Southwest Services to revamp its campus security technology system, according to a news release. Intech has released a case study on its website detailing the process that advanced the district’s technology by more than 20 years in less than three weeks.

The State of Texas recently launched an initiative to fund the purchase of new security components like gates, automatic door locks, fences, camera systems, access control, and more, the news release reports. The Intech leadership team took a consultative role in helping the small district make decisions with limited funds and staffing.

“Over the past 23 years, Intech has had the privilege of serving K-12 districts of all sizes and complexities,” said Intech Southwest Services Owner Kevin Reyher. “We want to emphasize to even the smallest Texas districts that, no matter the time of year, they have the ability to implement elaborate new technologies on relatively short notice, especially when something as critical as campus security is involved.”

TISD previously used a small system of older, mismatched, low-res cameras tethered to a local server, leading to constant problems with upgrading and syncing devices. There was also no connection to local law enforcement and limited storage capacity to archive video recordings.

Intech installed 90 Verkada camera units across all three TISD campuses in three weeks, working outside school hours to minimize disruptions. In addition to streamlining the district’s technologies into a single cloud-based system, the Verkada solution also allows local law enforcement access and views of each camera, according to the news release.

“In today’s environment, campus security is of the utmost importance, and it’s a must to have high-tech security in place within K-12 campuses,” said TISD Computer Technician Edgar Mendoza. “Cameras, and the complexity of their networking and integration, are critical campus safety components that cannot be overstated today. The moment was right for this upgrade, and we didn’t want to waste any time.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Kentucky Sees Positive Results from Energy Efficiency Program

    The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky., recently announced the results of its Energy Program in Facilities Management, put into place eight years ago, according to a news release. Between the fiscal years of 2017 and 2025, the university’s campus grew by 13.6% while the energy use per square foot dropped by 19.2%.

  • Kimball International Launches New Furniture for K–12 Classrooms

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of four new products designed for a variety of professional environments, including K–12 schools, according to a news release.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • Singlewire Software Report Reveals Gaps in K–12 School Entrance Security

    Single Software recently released its first-ever School Entrance Security Report based on more than 500 responses from U.S. school staff members. According to a news release, the findings highlight a gap between K–12 leaders’ wishes for school safety and how safe the schools actually are, as well as the challenges facing students and staff in that goal.

Digital Edition