CDA School District to install crisis management system

COEUR D'ALENE, ID,-- January 26, 2006 -- The Coeur d’Alene School District will soon install a state-of-the-art crisis management system that will give fire, police and other agencies critical information when responding to school emergencies.

The District received a $248,427 Emergency Response & Crisis Management grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools. Only 97 grants were awarded from among 387 qualified applicants.

The funds will be used to improve and strengthen school emergency response and crisis management plans. The district will work with Prepared Response, Inc. of Seattle to implement “Rapid Responder®,” a software product widely used in Washington schools. The system, which runs on a laptop computer, will enable first responders to instantly access more than 300 data points, including tactical plans, floor plans, aerial and geospatial imagery, interior and exterior photos, staging areas, hazardous materials quantities and locations, utility shut-offs, and evacuation routes of the District’s 17 schools.

“Although we have made great strides in emergency preparedness, we continually want to improve our efforts, especially as it relates to gathering and sharing the most updated information that may be critical in a crisis situation,” said Superintendent Harry Amend. “This grant will enable our district to provide a stronger infrastructure and foster a community-wide partnership to better ensure the safety of students and staff.”

Amend credited the success of the grant application to the support of area responder agencies who signed “partner agreements” last summer to participate in the process.

The District selected Prepared Response, Inc., from among nine bid proposals. Its Rapid Responder system was instrumental in helping Spokane Police respond to and defuse a weapon incident at Lewis and Clark High School last year. The Rapid Responder system currently is used by more than 4,200 facilities nationwide, including schools, stadiums and other public and private facilities.