Silent alarm technology now required in Texas schools

JACKSONVILLE, Texas ( KETK ) – A preventative technology that may have saved saved lives in Georgia’s recent school shooting will soon be implemented in Texas.

Authorities believe that a silent alarm technology the Georgia high school teachers had in their possession helped save countless lives on Wednesday’s horrendous shooting. As a preventive measure, the same system is now being used and installed into every Texas school.

“That was how first responders were able to respond so quickly is that there was a silent panic alert” Bill Avera, chief of police and director of school safety for Jacksonville ISD, said.

Now it will officially be a staple in Texas Schools. In June 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law requiring every classroom to have a panic silent alarm system. This is in addition to the 100 other requirements according to Avera.

“Silent panic alarm technology was a part of house bill 3 at the last session of the legislation,” Avera said.

Avera is also the president of the Texas School District Police Chiefs Association and he said this tech will be crucial in keeping our children safe in school.  Its sole purpose will be to quickly get help on the scene by contacting everyone directly.

“This is a game changer, it has been around a long time and many districts have used it for years,” Avera said. “The purpose of the device is cut out what we call time barriers.”

He said it could look different for every school, but how it’s used won’t be made public for safety reasons.

“An app on your phone, it can also be a button on the screen of your desktop it can be touch activated button, it can be a physical device,” Avera said. “It’s of great public importance that they know that polices and procedure and protocols and devices are in place in every school in Texas.”

Officials want it to be known that the safety of children remains a top priority in Texas and throughout East Texas.

“School safety is taken very seriously here, from the school board through the superintendents office all the way to the first line auxiliary personnel,” Avera said.

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