Uvalde Schools Receive AI Security Technology through Grant Program

AI-powered gun detection and emergency response technology solutions provider Omnilert recently launched the Save Haven Grant program, according to a news release. The first recipient of the grant, aimed specifically at schools that have faced gun violence, will be the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (Uvalde CISD) in Uvalde, Texas. The district will receive a three-year deployment of the Omnilert visual AI gun detection platform across all schools in the district.

“Our number one priority is to keep students and staff safe, which is why we have been looking to add Omnilert's visual AI gun detection for all of our sites,” said Uvalde CISD Superintendent Ashley Chohlis. “Without the grant program, we would be unable to bring this life-saving technology into our schools, and we are grateful for the opportunity that Omnilert and BCD have given us to move forward with it district-wide.”

The Save Haven Grant supports districts that face the highest risk with the fewest resources, the news release reports, meaning districts either recovering from gun incidents or lacking funds to implement needed security measures. One district per year receives a full deployment of the Omnilert AI gun detection platform, combined with hardware and infrastructure from BCD during the installation process.

“Every student deserves to feel safe at school, regardless of what resources their district may or may not have,” said Dave Fraser, CEO of Omnilert. “With the Safe Haven Grant and our partnership with BCD, we can now provide a key layer of security to the most vulnerable schools in America. With visual AI gun detection integrated into security cameras, weapons can be identified the instant they are brandished and allow for an immediate and robust response designed to save lives.”

According to the news release, Uvalde CISD previously tried purchasing the Omnilert solution but failed due to lack of public funding.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.

  • Classical building columns display digital data streams

    The Campus Nervous System: Why Facilities Risk Is Now a Leadership Issue in Higher Education

    Facility performance now intersects with safety, compliance, on-campus experience, institutional reputation, and financial resilience. That places it firmly on the leadership agenda.