Vendor shows classroom audio, intercom and wearable alert system; district to explore pilot and specs

Jimmy Bridal, a representative of Audio Enhancements, presented the company’s classroom audio, intercom and safety platform during the district meeting and described three core elements: classroom audio (teacher and optional student microphones), EPIC intercom and bell scheduling software, and a wearable alert called SAFE integrated into classroom microphones.

"My name is Jimmy Bridal, and I work with Audio Enhancements," Bridal said, and he described the company’s technology that uses teacher-worn microphones to project audio through classroom speakers and that also integrates paging, bell schedules and emergency alerts districtwide through a platform the company calls EPIC.

Bridal told board members the system is designed to use existing 70-volt speaker wiring and requires a single PoE+ network drop (30 watts) to serve each classroom. "It would work with existing 70 volt speakers, and that wiring would remain intact. Any of the classrooms would require, what's called a POE drop, 30 watts," he said.

Bridal and district staff said the system can integrate with assistive listening devices (ALDs) used by students with cochlear implants or advanced hearing aids; a district staff member said the district and company met with student services and academics teams to demonstrate the solution.

The presentation included examples of optional expansions the district might add later, including a language-translation offering called Clear Connect (a pilot referenced at Seneca Valley School District) that can deliver instruction in students’ native languages via the same infrastructure.

Board members asked technical and deployment questions. Board member Ivory asked whether the system requires additional electrical wiring; Bridal answered that classrooms need a PoE+ drop but not new 120-volt wiring. Board member Miss Hoff asked whether the product could support bringing deaf students back into district classrooms; Bridal said Audio Enhancements' systems can integrate with ALDs and that "that is a strong possibility," though the district noted a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and further investigation would be necessary.

District staff said they are in exploratory phases and are considering matching the Cypress renovation specifications to the vendor’s system; staff said they plan to discuss the system at an upcoming property committee meeting to determine whether the Cypress specification could be aligned with the Audio Enhancements offer.

No procurement decision was made at the meeting; staff described the presentation as exploratory and said the system is expandable and could be considered for additional schools later.