Security system at scene of Georgia school shooting also used by some Ohio schools

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – The same security system that was used at a Georgia high school where a mass shooting happened Wednesday is used at some school districts in Ohio.

Barrow County, Georgia Sheriff Jud Smith told reporters that a security system called CENTEGIX is what alerted them to the shooting and aided in a quick response.

With CENTEGIX, teachers all wear a badge that has a button on it. If they push the button a certain amount of times, it signals an emergency and activates a lockdown while alerting law enforcement at the same time.

Jennifer Allerding was the superintendent of the first school district in Ohio to implement CENTEGIX when she was the superintendent at Galion City School District.

Allerding told FOX 8 that she felt compelled to install some sort of security software after she attended a safety and security summit hosted by the state board of education.

There was a message she heard there that she took home with her.

“You know, kind of graphic, but the message was, ‘time equals body count.’ If we’re in a situation where lives are at stake, time matters,” Allerding said.

She later moved to the Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village School District in the same role, where she quickly implemented CENTEGIX again.

Allerding said she likes the system’s versatility because teachers can use it to signal a minor emergency in their classroom like an injured student, but the big draw is getting the word of an emergency to first responders within seconds.

“I don’t know in a real event similar to what happened in Georgia, if you’re fully prepared for everything that’s going to happen, but then again, I go back to the getting people on scene is crucial,” she said. “For our staff members, it’s a sense of reassurance. For our families, I pray that it’s a sense of reassurance that we’re going to get people on scene to take care of their children.”

After watching the news, Allerding made the connection that Apalachee High School in Georgia was using CENTEGIX. She said it’s hard to contextualize her thoughts on using the same system.

“It’s kind of hard to talk about that situation because you’re talking about kids and children, and you hope that having a system like this, you would never have to use it. So, I can’t imagine,” she said.

The Loudonville district used a safety and security grant from the state to help pay for CENTEGIX. Allerding is always looking out for other grants. She believes the students’ safety is an important investment.

Superintendent Jeff Stanton from the Buckeye Local School District released the following statement:

“The Buckeye Local Schools implemented Centegix for enhanced safety for our students, staff, and community during the 23/24 school year.  All of our staff members wear an ID badge that has the Centegix safety measures embedded in them. The ID Badges allow for our staff members to immediately send alerts for any assistance that is needed. We worked with Centegix to implement the system and train our staff members, and consistently run training exercises to make sure the system is operating correctly and we know how to use it. Our Technology Director and staff, along with our building principals, directors, and operation personnel have been the key personnel in getting everyone trained and the system working.

We have been pleased with Centegix. It has enhanced safety for the students, staff, and community of the Buckeye Local Schools.”

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