Mass. City and School District Collaborate for Model Security Program

Lynn, Mass. – As governors and school superintendents around the country commemorate America's Safe Schools Week, Lynn Public Schools and the City of Lynn today announced that they are collaborating with GE Security to bring advanced security technologies to the Lynn schools.

"Our top priority is helping students live up to their full potential," said Nicholas P. Kostan, superintendent of Lynn Public Schools. "If we are going to succeed, it's critical that our students, faculty and staff are safe when school is in session. This exciting new collaboration will make our district more secure and let us focus on what's really important -- educating our children."

Under the terms of the agreement, Lynn Public Schools will work with GE Security to develop a comprehensive security system. The security architecture will include investment in a number of advanced technologies, including a fire alarm system, access control, intrusion detection, drug trace detection, video surveillance and integrated monitoring system installation.

"Mayors, as chief executives of our communities, have a duty to ensure the safety and security of all residents, especially our children," said Lynn Mayor Edward J. 'Chip' Clancy, Jr. "This collaboration will provide powerful new tools to deter would-be criminals and help school officials and law enforcement respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations. It is my hope that this initiative will become a model for other schools and cities around the country that want to develop a comprehensive school safety plan – and put it into place."

The Lynn collaboration is being launched at a time when many Americans are questioning the safety of America's schools. A new national survey of 778 Americans conducted earlier this week by Ipsos and commissioned by GE Security shows that one in three Americans believe that the public school environment isn't safe for children. Forty-eight percent said the environment was only somewhat safe, and only 18 percent said it was very safe.

"School administrators and law enforcement officials face tremendous challenges to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment," said A. Louis Parker, president & chief executive officer of GE Security Inc. "We are committed to bringing best-in-class solutions to communities like Lynn to help keep schools safe and secure."

GE Security offers security solutions that help the nation's schools create safe and drug-free environments and meet growing security and safety challenges. The company's broad array of security solutions can be found in school districts around the country:

* The metropolitan Atlanta DeKalb County Schools have installed 3,500 GE Security cameras and 220 digital video recorders with Ethernet connections at 140 schools. This has allowed the district to do away with videotapes and view camera feeds over a local area network. The system has helped the district resolve security incidents more quickly and reduced the need for guard services.

* At New Britain (Connecticut) High School, GE Security technologies have helped save the local school district $200,000 each year in costs associated with vandalism. When students are caught, they are shown a playback of the incident. In the first two weeks after security technologies were installed at New Britain, 85 vandals were caught and suspended.

* In the Clark County, Nevada school district -- the nation's fifth largest -- GE Security has engineered a 7,000 plus camera security system for the district's 317 schools and 113 non-school facilities.

The national survey showed that eight in ten Americans (82 percent) said that it was important for schools to purchase and install security technology equipment to prevent crime and violence and to give law enforcement officials the ability to respond to incidents more quickly and effectively.

"New technologies can make school districts safer by keeping drugs and unwanted visitors out of buildings and off of school grounds," said Daniel Smytka, president of GE Security for engineered systems. "There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to security, but our flexible approach lets us focus on the unique security needs of schools district by district."