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Sarasota School District uses app to get ahead of threats

Posted at 4:30 PM, Mar 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-01 02:25:26-04

SARASOTA, Fla. — The Sarasota School District is using technology to get ahead of threats.

They are using a social media monitoring system to look for threats associated with school names. Officers will be alerted if a student posts a threat.

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"We want to be at the front of that, when a kid is in crisis we want to be able to provide all of the services,” said Chief Tim Enos.

Enos said the district will also start using an app that allows any staff member to call for a school lock down from their mobile phone. Every district employee will have the app.

"This gives the ability that there will be no delay in calling for that lock-down, because we want that quick immediate response, because seconds count,” said Enos.

Enos said they also plan to hire about 25 officers for the new school police department.

“We are going to use every means necessary to accomplish that, there is no price tag on school safety there is no price tag on a kid,” said Enos.

The district also completed a single point of entry for each school. All visitors can only access the buildings from the front office area.

The district hopes have all measures in place by next school year.