SCCPSS update school maps to better respond to incidents

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Across the nation, many are mourning the loss of two teachers and two students after a school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. A number of those people are questioning if it’s safe to step inside of the classroom again.

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System told News 3 they continue to work toward ways to ensure safety for students, faculty and staff.

News 3 spoke with Board of Education Police Department (BOEPD) Emergency Management Coordinator, Justin Pratt. He said a year ago, they started the process of redrawing school maps.

“The issue we had district-wide was that we didn’t have a solidated building map that looked alike across all of our facilities,” Pratt said. “So, we may have had something that was drawn in the 50s… we may have an architectural rendering that was drawn in 2024.”

Pratt said the department realized that was an issue as it became harder to effectively respond to incidents.

“The technology department needed maps so they could jot down where they are putting cameras and access controls,” he explained. “Maintenance needed them so they could identify water source shut off valves and gas lines.”

BOEPD then turned to Critical Response Group for help. According to Critical Response Group, they use a military-grade mapping system to enhance response time through common language and unified points of reference between response units.

“They come to Savannah to walk the campus and make sure that what they have drawn is true and accurate, room numbers are correct, and fire extinguishers are where the map says they are supposed to be,” said Pratt. “Then, we’ll have a new complete set of drawings for that facility incorporating all of the changes”

It is the second year the school system is working with the company. Pratt told News 3 he has seen improvement in response times within their department and when working alongside other emergency agencies. News 3 was told the company will redraw the facilities as they change or expand.