Fulton Schools Upgrade Security, Complete Renovation Projects

FULTON COUNTY, GA — Teachers and, no doubt, parents are counting down the days before their little ones return to the classroom for the start of the 2018-19 year in the Fulton County School System.

With about 95,000 students expected to show up to resume their lessons, the school system is not only making sure its pupils have the proper academic tools necessary to succeed, but it's also ensuring they will be well-protected in their pursuit of an education. Fulton County Schools will also mark the completion of several renovation and construction projects when the school year begins on Monday, Aug. 6.

Here's a rundown of what you can expect to see next week:

Quick Tip Safety Hotline

The “Quick Tip” app has been used Fulton County Schools for several years. This year it has been loaded on all district-issued student devices, such as tablets and laptops, so that students can report any safety matter quickly and anonymously. This valuable flow of information is just one tool to support the slogan, “If you see something, say something.”

Creation of Safety Committee

Fulton County Schools is establishing a Safety Advisory Committee to provide insight and perspectives to Superintendent Jeff Rose. The committee will consist of school system staff from multiple departments to give a cross-functional view, and will involve school leaders, partners and experts from Fulton’s public safety community, and parent representatives. It also will use a research-based approach to review the district’s current systems and processes while also identifying efforts or investments that would further enhance school safety.

Additional School Social Workers and School Police Officers

Demonstrating commitment to safe school environments, 10 additional social workers are being added to staff Fulton’s social-emotional learning initiatives, which are in many schools to support students’ development as well as personal safety and good decision-making. Six new police officers’ positions also are being added to provide additional support to the school police department.

New Police Vehicles and Body Cameras

The FCS School Police Department has added 19 vehicles to its fleet. These vehicles not only provide greater visibility of the district’s school police department, but also increase mobility of its officers. The new cars will enhance officers’ ability to patrol all schools and provide further capability for emergency response. In addition, officers are being outfitted, for the first time, with body cameras. These camera systems are becoming part of a police officer’s standard uniform, similar to body armor/vests and other safety equipment.

Report Management System

The FCS School Police Department has adopted a new report management system that permits better sharing of information among metro police departments. Information includes access to criminal records, videos and photos so that the departments can collaborate on cases with similarities and keep communities safer.

New Video Surveillance Systems

Using SPLOST funds, the district is upgrading camera systems in every school to Avigilon, one of the nation’s leading video surveillance systems. These systems allow safety and security teams to monitor activities with laser sharp accuracy via desktop computers, monitoring stations and mobile devices. High tech lenses allow the users to pan the high-definition cameras, zoom in for a closer view, and change the angles of the view. The artificial intelligence (AI) component allows users to find targets within the facility based upon a tagged “appearance search.” This type of technology is currently used at many of the nation’s major airports as well as other highly secured environments.

Also, Fulton County Schools has partnered with ChatComm 9-1-1, which serves Sandy Springs and Johns Creek, and Fulton County 911 Dispatch so that in emergencies they have direct access to view the Avigilon cameras in schools. Discussions are under way to share this capability with other municipalities’ police departments.

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CrisisGo Communications Tool

CrisisGo is being phased into schools during the 2018-2019 school year. The program quickly distributes emergency operations plans to staff, via mobile devices, during emergency situations. Over a three-year cycle, this technology will replace the traditional paper emergency plans. It began roll-out in Spring 2018, with full implementation anticipated by Spring 2019.

Construction and Maintenance Projects

Thanks to SPLOST, the one-penny education sales tax, hundreds of large and small maintenance projects occurred during the summer months while buildings were mostly empty of students and staff. Projects included finishwork, flooring and sitework as well as roofing and fire alarm replacements.

• Riverwood High School. This summer, construction crews completed the third floor of the new addition at Riverwood High School. The addition opened last fall and is the first phase of a complete replacement of the school. Work is currently progressing on a new cafeteria, a new media center, and additional instructional spaces.
• Turf and Track Replacements. Turf and track replacements occurred, or are in progress, at seven schools due to the natural lifespan of the existing materials: Alpharetta High School (track and turf replacement), Centennial High School (turf replacement), Chattahoochee High School (turf replacement), Creekside High School (track replacement), Riverwood High School (turf replacement), Roswell High School (track replacement) and Westlake High School (track and turf replacement).
• Renovations at 14 Schools. Renovation work occurred at 11 elementary schools – Bethune, Brookview, Campbell, Cogburn Woods, Hamilton E. Holmes, Lake Windward, Liberty Point, Manning Oaks, Parklane, Randolph, S.L. Lewis – and three middle schools, Camp Creek, Holcomb Bridge and Sandtown.

New Propane-Powered Buses with Seat Belts

Fulton County Schools is gradually converting its diesel transportation fleet to become propane-powered. Last year, 90 diesel buses were replaced by new propane-powered buses, and this fall, 97 more will replace older diesel models. Each of the new propane buses has three-point safety belts similar to what are found in passenger cars. Fulton County Schools is the first Georgia school district to have seat belts on its larger buses.

RELATED

• 95,000 Students Expected For 2018-19 School Year
• Fulton School Officers To Wear Body Cameras
• Fulton County School Calendar 2018-19

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