Whitnall board hears pitch for no‑cost pilot of 'Soteria' threat‑detection system at middle school

The Whitnall School District board on Tuesday heard a vendor presentation and a request to run a no‑cost pilot of an indoor threat‑detection and evacuation guidance system at the district—s middle school.

Robert Austin, a Safepro Technologies representative, described Soteria as “an integrated threat detection, notification, and evacuation guidance system,” explaining the devices detect gunshots indoors and project red Xs or green arrows on floors and walls to direct building occupants during an emergency. “This is designed to be the future exit sign,” Austin said.

Why it matters: Board members signaled interest but asked for more written detail before any approval. They cited technical, privacy and operational concerns that would affect whether the district accepts a vendor to install equipment on school networks and run on‑site tests.

What the company proposed

Safepro offered to outfit Whitnall Middle School at no cost for a staged pilot: install gunshot detectors, in‑room indicator lights and ceiling laser units that visually indicate lockdown zones (red Xs) or evacuation routes (green arrows), and run calibration and false‑positive testing before turning the system live. “We would ask for some access to the facility for testing purposes,” Austin said, adding that the company has conducted a small pilot at Greenfield High School.

Technical and privacy questions

Board members pressed for specifics. Members asked how the system avoids false positives from everyday noises and whether it records audio. Austin said the gunshot detection algorithm was developed under a Department of Energy public‑partner grant with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and “measures the power of an event” rather than just decibel levels, which the company told the board reduces false positives dramatically; he added the system does not record audio and only retains detection metrics.

Board members also asked how the system would behave during a power outage; the company said the system runs on Power over Ethernet (PoE) and would rely on a school—s redundant power systems if available, but would not function if the entire building lost power. District IT review and network isolation were flagged as prerequisites.

Training, law enforcement and drills

Safepro reps said training for staff and periodic, child‑appropriate drills would be part of the pilot. “We just say when the Xs come on, you shelter in place, and when the arrows come on, you follow them,” Austin said, noting the company offers active‑shooter instruction and would coordinate with local law enforcement for training and response integration.

Board response and next steps

Several board members expressed cautious support for a pilot but requested a written plan covering installation steps, testing protocols (including simulated triggers), timing and how the system would interact with planned referendum work and existing safety systems. The board asked district legal and IT staff to review liability, network access and any permitting needed for on‑site testing; trustees said they expect the company to provide personnel vetting information for technicians who would access district buildings.

No formal vote was taken. Staff said they would gather written materials and return with a formal recommendation and documentation for a future meeting.

Provenance: First discussed when superintendent introduced the item and Safepro representatives began their presentation, and continued through the board—s technical and operational questions; primary transcript coverage begins at SEG 373 and continues through SEG 1376.

Authorities and references: Company cited a DOE‑PNNL public‑partner development of the detection algorithm; the board requested review by district IT and legal counsel.

Community impact and uncertainty

If the board approves a pilot later, the middle school would host the staged tests and potential eventual full operation; the district emphasized testing would be staged and disconnected during school hours until the system has been validated. Board members noted the need to balance safety improvements with privacy, network security and operational continuity.

What happens next: District staff will collect the vendor—s written plan and return to the board with details and legal/IT findings before any vote.