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Security budget rises as district plans for panic‑button pilot and considers state cellphone restrictions
Summary
Director Joseph Troppoto presented a safety budget increase on Feb. 19 that includes a significant equipment placeholder for a possible Centegix panic‑badge deployment and a separate placeholder for student cellphone pouches should a statewide cellphone restriction be required.
Joseph Troppoto, director of safety and security, presented the safety department’s 2025‑26 budget and walked the board through current staffing, technology and proposed equipment purchases on Feb. 19.
Troppoto said the district employs a mix of approximately 59 full‑ and part‑time safety officers who cover all seven schools, athletic events and year‑round programs. Officers administer visitor management (Raptor), maintain video footage systems and manage the district’s handheld radio network.
The requested security budget totals approximately $965,650, a 24.7 percent increase from the prior year driven primarily by an equipment line. Troppoto said the equipment increase would be used to fund two categories: (1) a Centegix/CrisisAlert wearable mobile panic badge pilot (Alyssa’s Law discussions and silent‑alarm requirements were cited as rationale) and (2) a placeholder for devices to support a potential statewide restriction on smartphone use in schools (the so‑called “distraction‑free schools” proposals).
Troppoto described Centegix as a district proposal to deploy wearable panic‑button badges integrated with existing systems; he estimated the Centegix initial purchase at approximately $520,000 with a lease option (a four‑year lease example of about $83,000 per year was discussed). For the phone‑restriction option, he discussed the Yonder pouch as 1 vendor estimate: “The price of the Yonder pouch is $30 per pouch. If we were to use the pouches for both our middle school and high school … a 15 percent discount … brings them down to $25.50,” Troppoto said; he said the district budget line for pouches is a placeholder and no vendor or procurement decision had been made.
Board members asked whether purchases were confirmed; district leaders emphasized a committee has been formed, a Feb. 27 committee meeting was scheduled, and any purchase would be recommended to the board after committee vetting and public input. Troppoto and other administrators said the inclusion in the budget is precautionary: a line was added so the district would be able to act promptly if a final statewide requirement or a board decision required purchases.
Troppoto also described routine security work: CRG (collaborative response graphics) mapping for first responders, camera and radio management, and administrative oversight of anonymous alerting systems. He said many safety officers are bilingual and that the department frequently assists with student welfare checks, residency verification and Chromebook recovery.
No procurement decisions were made at the meeting; the board and administration said they would pursue committee review and broader public engagement before any significant equipment purchases.
