Case Study: Ridgefield Public Schools achieves rapid, integrated lockdown alerts and automated police notification with Alertus Technologies

Simultaneous Notification and Easy Integration Capabilities

Ridgefield Public Schools, a suburban district in Ridgefield, CT serving 5,200 students and 750 faculty across 11 buildings on 500 acres, sought a comprehensive emergency notification system after the Sandy Hook tragedy. The district needed a solution to rapidly alert staff and students, automatically notify police and central administration, and remain easily expandable and interoperable. After evaluating options, Ridgefield selected Alertus Technologies’ Alertus System, including Alert Beacons and the Alertus Activation App.

Alertus Technologies installed wall-mounted Alert Beacons, strategically placed panic buttons, PA and desktop on-screen integration, and an iPhone activation workflow, and linked the system directly to the local police dispatch (which now also has an Alert Beacon). The system automatically notifies police and delivers synchronized visual, audible and desktop alerts; drills are launched via the app and run at least every other month to validate procedures and functionality. The deployment improved district-wide emergency communication, established automatic police notification, and provided a modular platform for future integrations across all 11 buildings and 500 acres.

Ridgefield Public Schools

Craig Tunks

Director of Technology and Operations Development