Raptors are known for their fast reaction time and ability to recognize danger. The FCPS security team hopes that Raptor Technologies and its new Badge Security System will achieve the same goals as its prehistoric namesake by helping schools respond quickly to emergencies to keep students and staff safe.
“Raptor is a technology company that’s dedicated to helping schools feel more secure,” said Sean O’Neill, a Raptor electrical installer who installed sensors throughout McLean High School on Dec. 3.
“Recently, there have been a lot of dangerous activities, but also in other situations like if a student has an allergic [reaction], this system helps get emergency staff.”
The technology involves small white node-like sensors, called locator beacons, that FCPS has placed in every classroom, hallway and on the outside parts of the school property like the baseball fields and the bleachers.
“The [beacons] are weatherproof because emergencies don’t only happen inside the school—they could happen on the track or baseball field and we need to be ready for that,” Principal Raven Jones said.
The beacons connect to a button on a wearable badge that all FCPS school-based personnel will receive. It has a button on the back, which, to avoid confusion or mistakes, must be pressed multiple times in a short period of time to activate the system.
“If you press the button three times, it will notify the main office and security team on campus, and if you press it seven times, it will notify the local police department of an emergency and also [tell] them exactly the location where the emergency is happening,” O’Neill said.
Once the button is activated, the badge will immediately start to communicate with nearby beacons and then those beacons will work together to identify the badge’s location. This allows the system to pinpoint where help is needed without requiring the person pressing the button to state their location.
“The system uses triangulation to know exactly where you are in the building and who is asking for help. It takes away all of that guesswork and puts it on a map for [first responders],” FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Brian Lambert said.
FCPS chose Raptor because of the company’s experience in school environments and the flexibility of the technology. After comparing it to multiple emergency response platforms, they determined that its system best fit the district’s needs for school safety and communication.
“Raptor has been in the school safety environment for a long time, and we liked the way the platform looked, the way it operated and its functionality,” Lambert said.
FCPS invested in the Raptor Emergency Response Button System, which helps improve emergency response time and communication between staff and first responders during emergencies.
“[Raptor] does not replace calling 911,” FCPS announced in a Jan. 13 message to families. “It is meant to serve as an additional safety tool that staff can use if a phone is not immediately available or if calling may not be safe or practical.”
According to district budget records, FCPS invested $750,000 into the initial installment of the Raptor Badge Security System, at a cost of $3,750 for each of its 200 school sites. FCPS will also pay annual fees for use of the system, including the badges, the locator beacons, cellular backup device use and professional support services, which will total nearly $1.1 million dollars each year to maintain, including $5,200 for each site and $50,000 for “premium professional services.”
Staff members have been undergoing training to use the system, which includes the option to install an app on their personal devices, but McLean teachers have not received their badges yet. Raptor is expected to fully roll out at the end of February.
As FCPS prepares to launch the system, the goal is not to replace existing safety procedures, but instead to strengthen them by saving time. The FCPS security team hopes the Raptor Emergency Response Button System will support schools in moments when quick, clear and possibly silent communication is needed the most.
“It’s really about precious time and communication,” Lambert said. “Our 40,000 employees [will be] an extra set of eyes and ears that can immediately get help.”
