Mount Gilead schools getting new technology in 2007
December 27, 2006
Excerpt from The Morrow County Sentinel/Independent
Members of the Mount Gilead Board of Education embarked on a virtual tour of the new computer technology available to the district and approved the architectural firm of Burris & Behne, Inc. to design the high school’s new track at their December board meeting.
The virtual tour was guided by the district’s technology director, Mike Wellin. Wellin demonstrated how the new Sharepoint program allows teachers and administrators to share their lesson plans and other information with one another through classroom computers. He also highlighted a new security camera system which was purchased through the fundraising efforts of the PTO.
Using a computer in the board offices on Cherry Street, Wellin accessed live feeds from one of the cameras in the high school auditoria on Park Avenue. He explained that the same live feed would be available to law enforcement personnel whose cruisers are equipped with computers linked to the system.
According to Wellin, “Mount Gilead school district took an enterprise-wide approach when implementing the Cisco IP telephony system across all of its schools. This approach seamlessly added applications and technologies to the network, such as video streaming, IP video cameras, and wireless alerting devices including panic buttons, window and door sensors, smoke detectors and glass break sensors.”>
He explained that when a panic button is activated, a voice or text alert is sent, either to an administrator, or to law enforcement.
“The PTO at Park Avenue wanted to support efforts being made by the district to improve safety technologies already in place,” Wellin said. “They allocated $5,000 toward the purchase of video surveillance technology to be used across the school system. Outdoor cameras typically retail for $950 each, while indoor cameras are about $450.”
The PTO purchased one indoor and three outdoor cameras, the video server and necessary sensors. An additional four cameras, alerting devices, and labor costs were funded through a drug free grant in the amount of $8,391.
In addition to providing increased security, the camera system has also lowered the costs of the district’s liability insurance.
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