In addition to a number of existing grant programs designed to increase safety and security at Ohio schools, Ohio Legislature recently passed House Bill No. 33 to expand funding under the State of Ohio Security Grant (OSG) Program. The OSG program was established to mitigate security vulnerabilities in Ohio schools and thereby reduce the risk and potential impact of terrorist threats and attacks.
Lowry stated that schools can work with local law enforcement, fire, EMS, and Emergency Management authorities to collaboratively create a StrataSite Active Threat Plan (ATP).
Scott Lowry, president of StrataSite, stated, “The Ohio Security Grant Program has helped schools in Ohio invest in countless security improvements and build incident action plans to prepare students and faculty for an active threat,” said Lowry. “Ensuring all stakeholders know how to respond during an emergency, high-stress event, is paramount to saving lives.”
Lowry stated that schools can work with local law enforcement, fire, EMS, and Emergency Management authorities to collaboratively create a StrataSite Active Threat Plan (ATP). The platform is GIS-compatible to communicate directly with emergency agencies during an event, as well as provides all the necessary components such as school mapping and worksheets to ensure all stakeholders can address an active threat as efficiently and safely as possible.
StrataSite Active Threat Planning meets funding criteria as defined in House Bill No. 33, as follows:
House Bill 33 / State of Ohio Security Grant Eligible Equipment includes:
- Camera-based security systems, alarm systems, and standalone sensors designed to detect access violations or intrusions using sensors such as door/window switches, motion sensors, acoustic sensors, seismic, and thermal sensors
- Access control systems, locking devices and entry systems for control of physical access to facilities, including:
- Reinforced doors and gates with increased resistance to external impact
- Personnel identification systems for positive identification of personnel as a prerequisite for entering restricted areas or accessing information systems (such as badging)
- Fencing, bollards, or obstacles designed to channel or halt pedestrian or vehicle-borne traffic in order to protect a physical asset or facility (this does not include landscaping)
- Vehicle identification including decals or other transponder devices for vehicles owned by staff, members, visitors, etc.
- Fixed high-intensity lighting for improved visibility in areas such as building perimeters and surveillance zones
- Blast protection/Reinforcement systems to mitigate damage from blasts, shocks, or impacts, such as column and surface wraps, wall coverings, breakage/shatter resistant glass, window wraps, deflection shields, and blast resistant trash receptacles
- Portable X-Ray systems for use in search and screening operations, as well as hand-held or fixed package and personnel screening systems such as walk-through magnetometers and conveyor-belt x-ray systems used to screen personnel and packages for hazardous materials/devices
- Emergency and crisis communication systems including radios, emergency notification and warning systems, and public address systems
- Trauma and crisis response equipment requisite for an allowable security-related training
StrataSite additionally meets funding requirements for the following programs:
The K-12 School Safety Grant Program authorized equipment list includes:
Geospatial/Geographical Information Systems (GIS) including application software as well as integrated hardware for implementation. GIS systems support the acquisition, integration, and dissemination of geospatial data and imagery. GIS systems provide or support multiple CBRNE terrorism prevention and response functions, including (but not limited to):
- Geospatial Analysis - allows for association of intelligence and location-based information to perform complex analysis and visualization
- Decision Support - provides a mechanism to deliver actionable intelligence, supporting strategic and tactical operations
- Situational Awareness - supports a common operational picture with near real-time intelligence fused with geospatial information fully describing the area of operations in a spatial context
- Navigation
- Monitoring (tracking, weather, traffic, assets, environment, damage assessments, disease surveillance)
- Modeling - combines complex spatial information and applies modeling tools to predict consequences of events in support of planning, mitigation, response, and recovery
- Mapping - presents fused information in a standard, distributable and easily recognizable format
- Reporting (activity, after-action, alert-warning, location, situation, coverage portrayal)
School Safety and Security Grant Program (SSSG) eligible incident response equipment includes:
- Equipment bags or backpacks stocked with trauma first aid supplies;
- Two-way communication devices and software designed to interface directly with emergency responders; or
- School-wide panic alarm or panic button system.
Ohio Attorney General’s School/Law Enforcement Technology Linking Safety Grant provides funding for crisis-response or prevention technology, including but not limited to:
- Systems allowing immediate camera access to responding law enforcement.
- Silent panic alarms.
- Shot detection technology.
- License plate reader alerts for registered sex offender vehicles.
- Protection order alert systems.
- Wanted dangerous person alert systems.
