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Santa Cruz Valley board adopts emergency management plans; district highlights new cameras, Mutual Link integration
Summary
The Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 board on Oct. 22 approved updated emergency management plans after a presentation showing roughly 130 operational security cameras, a plan to integrate with the state’s Mutual Link system for rapid Public Safety access and a January 2025 target for keyless/phone-based entry at main entrances.
The Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District No. 35 governing board on Oct. 22 voted to adopt updated emergency management plans after hearing a presentation on expanded security technology and communications.
District staff told the board that about 130 security cameras are now operational across district sites, with staff access limited by site-based profiles to reduce unnecessary viewing. The system can push alerts to principals and IT when a camera goes offline, and remote access and downloading of footage is in place, the presenter said.
The presentation described Mutual Link, a state-provided software that connects school radio systems and dispatch so Public Safety can obtain immediate situational awareness. “Mutual Link has been able to basically bridge that gap,” the presenter said, describing two-way radio and camera access that would allow emergency responders to “hit camera number one…boom immediate access.”
Staff also outlined a keyless-entry goal for January 2025 for selected main entrances, using phone-based access as a lower-cost alternative to key cards. The presenter said those digital locks will be installed at primary entry points and could be opened remotely by law enforcement during an incident.
Board members praised the work and sought clarifications about lighting and camera coverage. One member noted the district would review outdoor lighting levels at sites now that cameras are in place because reduced lighting could lower utility costs and the district’s nighttime footprint.
After the presentation the board moved to approve the emergency management plans under ARS 38-431.03(A)(8); a motion carried. The district will proceed with Mutual Link integration, continued camera rollouts and the keyless-entry rollout timetable as staff refine technology and training plans.
