Pasadena ISD reviews Synex safety lanyards to replace Raptor app; district seeks grants

Pasadena Independent School District staff presented the Synex safety platform to trustees on July 10, describing staff-worn lanyard devices intended to replace the district's current Raptor visitor/incident app.

Derek, a district presenter, said staff would carry a battery‑monitored lanyard that allows a local alert when the wearer taps the button three times and triggers buildingwide alerts if the button is held or tapped repeatedly during an active event. He said the device provides location recognition so the system routes help to the correct campus when staff move between sites. Derek told trustees the lanyards would be district‑issued so staff would not need to download an app to a personal phone and that the vendor would monitor battery status and notify the district when a badge requires maintenance.

The presentation was informational only; the board did not vote on purchasing during the meeting. District staff said they were exploring grant funding to help cover the cost. Materials provided to trustees included a flyer and sample lanyard for review.

Board members asked clarifying questions about who would receive the device (staff only, not students), how visitors would be handled relative to Raptor’s visitor-management function, and how accidental activations would be prevented. Staff said the button requires consecutive presses to prevent false alerts, and that student ID badges would remain separate from the safety lanyards.