Huge School Panic Alarm System

After a successful pilot program in 20 schools, Montgomery County (Penn.) is installing panic alarms in 75% of its 650 schools, day-care centers and nurseries, to allow administrators a way to silently and directly alert the county comm center of problems. The C.L.A.S.S. (Countywide Law enforcement Alerting Safety System) is two-way, allowing the comm center to hear what’s happening at the school, and to talk to the person who pushed the alarm. It will cost about $1,000 per school to purchase and install, the county says. The murder of five Amish girls in Lancaster County (Penn.) last October sparked the project. See a prototype system here.