Security technology credited with helping response time in Georgia shooting

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – One local school district responded to a threat of violence this week and there are new details on the security technology teachers had in Georgia, which potentially helped save lives on Wednesday.

The Apalachee High School community is mourning the lives of two students and two teachers who were killed during a school shooting on Wednesday. Student Cole Gray, age 14, is also under arrest. Nine other victims were injured and are expected to survive.

Locally, a threat made to Minnechaug High School resulted in heightened security on school property on Thursday. A message sent to parents read, in part: “Later in the school day, students came forward with concerns, alleging another student was making school violence comments…We are aware that students and families are hearing about this. We want to assure the school community that we are aware of the situation the students reported, we are working with the Wilbraham Police Department, and our CSTAG team to ensure the continued safety of our school community.”

With the new school year is underway, security measures are being looked at closely. In Winder, GA, it was a tiny piece of technology that is being credited with preventing greater casualties.

“Every teacher has a little digital card on them where we can press a button. Four presses gets our admin involved and eight presses gets law enforcement sent,” said Apalachee High School teacher Stephen Kreyenbuhl.

The button, made by Centegix, is designed to immediately alert teachers and law enforcement when there is an active threat on school grounds. Kreyenbuhl said he was able to prepare himself and his students before a shot was fired.

“I had time to prepare. Someone saw the threat before he started to engage. We knew before anything truly even happened,” Kreyenbuhl explained.

Western Mass News is getting answers on what security measures exist in local schools to keep students and staff safe. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno highlighted some of the measures in the city’s school system.

“We have locked doors and automatic doors…the school security that we have, the Quebec units we have…some have metal detectors when you walk in,” Sarno noted.

Sarno added that you can never be too safe and State Representative Carlos Gonzalez agreed. He told Western Mass News that the state legislature’s recently enacted gun legislation gives teachers the power to report students inappropriate behavior or threats.

“Our teachers, guidance counselors, and principals be able to identify when they see maybe a youngster is behaving inappropriately or suggesting online over social media inappropriate behavior, those are the steps that we can continue to take,” Gonzalez explained.

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