CARMEL, IND.
- March 24, 2009 - Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies today announced that
Truman Public Schools (Minn.) are using Schlage bright blue web-enabled access
control software, Schlage multi-technology readers, Von Duprin exit devices
and LCN door closers to limit access to the building that houses Truman's
500 students in grades K-12.
"We
needed a system that we could afford, was easy to manage and, if I were out,
I could manage from home or wherever my laptop was connected to the Internet,"
explains Brian Shanks, principal. "We called in Kendell Doors & Hardware
(Mendota Heights, Minn.) to coordinate this project. They had three different
companies bid. The bright blue solution provided the investment that fit our
budget."
That's because
the Schlage bright blue web-enabled access control system is created especially
for smaller facilities, such as Truman Public Schools' one building in which
the elementary school children are on the east wing and the high school students
attend the west wing. The bright blue system eliminates the need for special
software or a dedicated PC yet allows authorized school administrators to
access, monitor and manage the system from any computer running a standard
web browser. Importantly, the cost of this system was less than that of a
single panel on larger security management system solutions and the system's
plug-and-play design made configuration easy.
The system
uses state-of-the-art technology in which the application is embedded on the
control panel, which is network-ready and connected easily to the school's
present network. Installers just connected the panel to the network and a
power source and the bright blue part of the system was ready to go. Schlage
multi-technology readers were installed at all entrance doors along with exit
devices, door closers, cameras and intercoms. Presently the readers are used
in conjunction with proximity keyfobs but give the Truman School District
the flexibility to migrate to smart cards if wanted in the future.
"After
the hardware was installed, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent out
a software trainer to teach me, two school secretaries and our primary custodian
how to use the system," says Shanks. "Training took only three hours.
My learning curve was very short.
"To
make this implementation successful, we took our time," adds Shanks.
"We started this process in the summer of '07. We felt that it was very
important to educate our people and prepare parents and students for the system.
Once installed in February (2009), we sent out a letter to all parents informing
them that our new security system will help ensure the safety of their children
by assuring all doors are locked once school is in session and that visitors
will be let in via an intercom/video system. This makes the staff very happy."
At the school,
all doors lock at 8:20 am. Since there are two main doors, one for the elementary
school and one for the high school, a separate monitor is on each of the two
secretaries' desks. With them, the secretaries can view non-personnel at the
doors before granting access.
"We
have already recommended this system to other school districts," avows
Shanks. "I don't believe we could have had a better process. It has been
an all-around positive experience, from bidding through installation, training
and using the system."