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Board previews smart‑light safety system and mapping, considers bond funds for installation
Summary
Administrators showed vendor videos of a visual alert (smart‑light) system and color‑coded building maps for first responders; a parent and board members cited incidents where audio alarms were unreliable, and staff said installation could be funded with bond carryover or new bond funds and would take about 6–8 months after award.
Administrators presented two short vendor videos demonstrating smart lights that provide visual lockdown/all‑clear indicators and a color‑coded mapping system for first responders and day‑to‑day navigation. Staff said the system has been installed in multiple Michigan districts and would both add a visual layer to lockdown/lockout protocols and produce durable site maps for building navigation.
A board member who is also a parent recounted a scenario in which a child left a classroom for a bathroom break during a soft lockdown. "He came out of the bathroom unaware of what was going on," the parent said, describing how visual alerts could help a child or a student with hearing‐impairment. Administrators highlighted that audio systems are not always heard across cafeterias or when students wear headphones; they estimated installation would be about 6–8 months after contract award and said the district could pay with bond carryover, bond funds or pursue state safety dollars if available.
The board asked staff to further discuss procurement options with architects and the finance committee; members said the item could be prioritized early among bond packages because it is a defined scope and potentially eligible for safety grants.
