Gurdon School District to install door-prop alarms using COPS grant

The Gurdon School District board approved a project to install 31 door-prop alarms on main exterior doors at the high school and elementary school, citing a COPS grant as the primary funding source.

Presenter said the district solicited multiple bids but chose a solution from Genesys that integrates with the district's existing electronic access system and avoids replacing that system. "If the door is propped, it will send off an alarm. Once the door is shut, the alarm will stop," the Presenter said, describing how the alarm will also produce an admin report that shows what doors were propped and when.

Staff told the board the project had been budgeted at $28,559.29 in the COPS grant. Under the grant, the COPS program would cover 75% (stated as $20,590.50) and the district would be responsible for a 25% match (stated as $6,008.16). Board members asked about doors that will not be covered initially and were told a few rarely used panic/auxiliary doors will be excluded to stay within the grant budget but can be added later if additional funds become available.

The board voted to move forward with the project. The Presenter said the integrated system will allow administrators to trace which doors were propped and when, and noted the installation should minimize technology integration issues because Genesys is the district's current access vendor.

Work on the project will proceed under the terms of the approved contract and budgeted grant funds; staff said the final implementation schedule would follow vendor availability and grant requirements.