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Pinellas school board approves wearable panic-alert badges for staff
Summary
The Pinellas County School Board approved a contract for Syntegix wearable crisis-alert badges to supplement existing Alyssa’s Law panic-alert systems, voting 6-0 after staff described integration and response-time benefits.
The Pinellas County School Board on Dec. 17 approved the purchase of a wearable crisis-alert badge system from Syntegix, a step board members said is intended to speed emergency response and complement the district’s existing Alyssa’s Law panic-alert system.
Board members voted 6-0 to approve the contract after School Safety Specialist Shawn Jewell described the badge as a "single purpose" device that staff can wear with their school ID and that "will integrate directly with the closest responding emergency dispatch center." Jewell said the district previously implemented a mobile panic-alert system required by Alyssa’s Law and that the Syntegix badge is a newer technology that will "increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of the safety and security platform we have in place."
Why it matters: Board members said the badge could reduce the burden on staff during critical incidents and speed law-enforcement response to precise campus locations. Vice Chair Edmond and Board Member Long both spoke in favor, with Long making the motion to approve and Board Member Myers seconding it.
Details: Jewell said the badge is a wearable device intended to be kept with staff at all times and that it integrates with the district’s current security software rather than replacing existing systems. Board discussion was brief; Board Member Long said the badges would "take a lot of pressure off of teachers," and Edmond thanked Jewell and staff for bringing the item forward.
Procedure and vote: Board Member Long moved to approve the Syntegix purchase; Board Member Myers seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
Next steps and limits: Jewell said the badge would be deployed districtwide alongside existing alert tools; the transcript does not specify contract length, total cost, implementation timeline, or the number of devices to be purchased. Those details were not specified during the public portion of this meeting.
Ending: The board approved the Syntegix purchase as part of new-business action item 8.1. Additional procurement documents and contract specifics were not discussed on the record at this meeting.
