Task force hears Knox emergency key-box pitch; presenter highlights tactical placement, low unit cost
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Summary
Neil Zipzer of Knox told the Louisiana K–12 School Safety Task Force that emergency key boxes let law enforcement reach school interiors faster, citing tactical placement, UL testing and one-time prices starting near $450; he estimated a one-box-per-campus rollout across Louisiana would cost roughly $1.36 million (presenter estimate).
Neil Zipzer, representing Knox, told the Louisiana K–12 School Safety Task Force that emergency key boxes can give responding officers faster, safer access to school buildings during emergencies. "If law enforcement can't get into that building then all those other technologies are compromised," Zipzer said during the vendor presentation.
The company, Zipzer said, built its product on a long-standing model used by fire departments: a locked, tamper-resistant box holding keys and maps so first responders do not have to break doors to enter. He described a larger school model that weighs about 29 pounds, can hold internal and external keys and access cards, and requires no power or batteries.
Zipzer argued for tactical placement — for example at gym or side entrances — rather than at front marquees so officers can avoid predictable lines of sight. He said boxes start at about $450 and that a larger model runs about $870 (one-time purchase), adding that some jurisdictions require a UL listing (transcript reference: UL 10 37) for such devices.
In response to questions, Zipzer said state approaches vary: Texas enacted an unfunded mandate after Uvalde, while other states combine equipment requirements with grant funding. Using the presenter’s estimate of roughly 1,367 public schools in Louisiana, Zipzer calculated that a one-box-per-school rollout would cost about $1.36 million and said many laws require at least one box per school ground with a typical two-year implementation window.
Task force members raised installation questions, including recessed versus surface mounting and key distribution. Zipzer recommended recessed mounting where possible, said placement and which agencies hold keys should be decided locally, and described an electronic key option (additional cost) that records access and allows time-limited codes for contractors.
The task force did not vote on policy at the meeting. The chair said vendor information would be passed to superintendents and that staff would consider drafting statutory language or administrative recommendations for the 2026 legislative session as part of the task force’s next steps.