PULASKI COUNTY, Va. – Pulaski County school leaders are putting safety in the hands of the people who are likely to see a threat first: teachers.
“You didn’t have to have resource officers,” Pulaski County Middle School Activities Director Wayne Viers said.
Viers worked with students for 35 years and he’s seen how safety in schools changed in over three decades.
“You didn’t worry as much in the younger days about people coming into schools,” Viers said.
Viers said it’s a no-brainer getting new technology that would alert officials in case of emergencies.
“It makes me feel a lot safer, makes me feel comfortable,” Viers said.
Status Solutions is working with Pulaski Middle Schools to help teachers learn about the Situational Awareness Program.
Leaders said the purpose of the software that can be used on a phone, desktop, or laptop, is to alert other co-workers and first responders in case they need help.
“Something as simple as a door that’s been propped open to a full-blown terrible event that you know, somebody shouldn’t be there,” Danielle Myers with Status Solutions said.
Myers with Status Solutions said Pulaski Middle School teachers would install the software on their device desktop, laptop, or phone.
“We pride ourselves on school security and anything we can do make it better than what it is a win for everybody,” Rob Graham Pulaski County Superintendent said.
The company has been working with the county’s emergency team since 2015, to make sure first responders have unified communication and are pleased to bring the technology to schools, for free.
“It feels good, it’s the right thing to do,” Myers said.
County leaders are pleased they use Status Solutions to work with school leaders.
“I think we need to be proactive, and that is what we’re doing with status solutions,” Mike Mooney, Pulaski County Board of Supervisors member said.