KIRKWOOD, Mo. — A St. Louis company is playing a role in helping school districts combat emergencies such as active shooters.
SirenGPS has devised a software program which helps school officials monitor the reason for 911 calls at or near their address. SirenGPS principals say their software program, 911RTA, serves as an interface between 911 dispatch centers and school district administrators.
SirenGPS principals, chief operating officer Galina Bour and chief executive officer Paul Rauner, said 80% of St. Louis-area school districts utilize the program.
“I’ve specifically pulled up life-threatening issues 911 dispatch entered on Dec. 21, 2022,” said Bour. She was sitting in front of a wall-mounted computer monitor in an administrative building at Kirkwood School District, one of their clients.
“In this specific case,” said Bour, “it was not a student, it was someone that was on the property, on the sidewalk.”
She is monitoring the content of a 911 dispatch. She continued to glean information from that emergency call.
“It was right during dismissal,” said Bour, “so it allowed district officials to talk through with parents who were coming to pick up their kids that this did not involve a student.”
It’s a good example of the type of information 911RTA can provide school district administrators about 911 calls on or near their property.
“Red pin drops mean they occurred on school property and purple are those that occurred nearby,” Bour said, referencing information shown on a computer screen.
If a school district signs up for 911RTA, administrators can become aware of emergency situations at or near their schools faster than their own staff members can even notify them.
“It’s real time,” said Bour. “So, it might be five seconds, it might be 15, it might be 30. It really just matters how quickly that dispatcher enters it into their system.”
School district officials can categorize events they choose to be notified about under high-risk codes, such as “active shooter.”
“So, if 911 dispatch enters ‘gunshot wound’ for an incident,” said Bour, “then this notification group would receive a text or email.”
At Kirkwood School District, safety and security is in Martise Scott’s job title.
“We wanted to add to our toolbox of safety items that would be very useful for us in case of any emergencies,” said Scott, Kirkwood director of safety and security.
SirenGPS CEO Paul Rauner says 911RTA also provides a link to a built-in emergency plan management tool.
“Kirkwood Police Department and Kirkwood 911 would have access and be able to see these as they happen,” said Rauner, “And they would be able to open up a link to see Kirkwood School District’s plan, which they curate, and get a floor plan or contact information or access information.”
It’s crucial time-saving information when seconds count.
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