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Tecumseh Local outlines new safety measures, background‑check alerts and translation devices before school year
Summary
District administrators described several measures ahead of the 2024–25 year: rollout of AI translation devices for each building, expansion of Rapback background‑check alerts to all staff via Ohio ID, a reunification drill on Aug. 15 and a pilot badge/fob access system; officials emphasized relationship building and revised drill practices.
Administrators and local deputies told the Tecumseh Local Board on Aug. 7 that several safety and communication measures will be in place when students return for the 2024–25 school year.
Brian Dixon, director of facilities and safety, said the district will ask teachers to keep classroom doors lockable (they may be propped open during the day but must be quickly closable and lockable in an emergency) and that lockdown drills will include staff members entering classrooms to better evaluate student positions in drills. Dixon said the district will run a reunification training day on Aug. 15 for staff and public‑safety partners.
Deputy Loney and Deputy Dillon, who attended a recent Ohio Safer Schools Community summit, said the conference emphasized trust and relationship building with students as a primary prevention tool. The deputies and Dixon also discussed reconsidering automatic evacuation responses tied to fire alarms during active‑threat scenarios.
Supervising staff member Paula Crew described Rapback expansion, a state Office of Professional Conduct program that will enroll classified and certificated staff under Ohio ID so the district receives automated criminal‑record alerts; administrators said an alert prompts a verification step (is this employee currently employed here?) and, if confirmed, can trigger administrative leave and follow‑up.
Director of Special Education Susan Wile described an AI‑powered, double‑sided translation device that each building will purchase using principal funds; initial year cost is about $2,000 per device with lower recurring service costs thereafter. The tool offers real‑time spoken translation for secretaries and a broadcast option for parent meetings, supplementing (not replacing) human interpreters when required.
The board discussed piloting a badge/fob access system for administrators and new staff and reiterated that exterior doors remain locked; the district said it will continue threat assessment activities and report back with implementation updates.
