Connellsville Area SD board approves $26,967 mapping system for first responders
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Summary
The Connellsville Area School District board voted to accept a PCCD-funded mapping system costing $26,967.50 to give first responders interactive building and grid information integrated with the district's e3 system after staff explained that the bulk of the cost covers first-year setup and mapping.
The Connellsville Area School District board voted Feb. 25 to accept a proposal from a critical-response vendor to provide an interactive mapping system for first responders at a cost of $26,967.50 to be paid from PCCD grant funds.
The tool will be integrated with the district's e3 emergency callout system and, according to the presenter, includes a vendor-led year-one setup: site walks of every building and property, grid mapping, IT integration and training for responders.
"It's an interactive map that does work with our e3 emergency call out system," the presenter said, explaining that responders use the grid language from their vehicles and that vendor staff will walk and grid every facility during setup. The presenter added the system "is for the people who are coming to save our lives," not a public-facing camera solution.
Some board members expressed concern over the price. "The price tag of $27,000 for a map ... is a bit ridiculous," a board member said during discussion, urging the district to consider using in-house staff or a secure web solution. The presenter replied that the cost reflects multi-year setup work and that ongoing yearly costs are lower.
Board members asked how the system interacts with the district's e3 app, who would have access and how it would help amid the chaos of a real emergency. The presenter said EMS, fire and police and Fayette Emergency Management would be authorized and that the system allows responders to navigate by grid coordinates and staging areas rather than by door names.
After questions about IT access for outside agencies and a brief clarification that the PCCD grant limits purchases to safety and security uses, the board moved and approved the proposal by voice vote. The motion carried.
Next steps identified in the discussion include vendor site visits, IT coordination with local police and EMS to grant access, and integrating the mapping overlay into the district's existing e3 workflows.
The board recorded the purchase as funded from the PCCD grant; the motion did not alter general operating funds, the presenter said. The district will proceed with vendor setup and make arrangements for first-responder access and training.