Lynwood Unified School District is taking a bold step to ensure the safety and well-being of its students, staff and families, implementing state-of-the-art programs to bolster security, strengthen emergency response, proactively identify potential threats and maintain seamless communication among all school personnel.
This school year, the District implemented the CENTEGIX Rapid Incident Response and Raptor Technologies Visitor Management systems across all LUSD schools. The District is also upgrading public address (PA) systems at elementary and middle schools, installing on-campus security cameras and upgrading fixtures to improve outdoor lighting at all elementary schools.
“These enhancements reflect the District’s unwavering commitment to creating a safe learning environment for all students and staff while strengthening our emergency response protocols, tools and resources,” said Chief of Security Paul Garcia, who has attended national safety and security conventions to keep up with the latest technologies and trends.
The CENTEGIX system enables all school and District staff to discreetly alert 911, first responders and administrators during emergencies. A facility-wide lockdown can also be initiated with the press of a button on a wearable badge equipped with real-time location tracking.
The Raptor system enhances security by requiring all visitors to present an approved form of identification for screening against databases, including sex offender registries. Approved visitors are issued a badge displaying their name, photo, date, time and campus destination.
“By adopting the latest technologies, we’re investing in the safety and future of our District,” Garcia said.
Digital-based PA systems, funded by Measure K, are being installed at all elementary and middle schools. The system ensures staff can efficiently deliver schoolwide messages, from bulletins and announcements to fire drills and potential lockdown situations. Installation will be complete this spring.
“Many of our elementary and middle schools have gone several years without functional PA systems,” said Ricardo Jurado, director of the Technology and Innovation Department, which is spearheading the project. “We are excited to restore this critical component to our schools for safety and security.”
Security cameras are being installed in key areas, including hallways and gymnasiums, at Firebaugh High School, Cesar Chavez Middle School and Hosler Middle School. Outdoor lighting will be fully installed at all elementary schools this spring.
“At Lynwood Unified, safety and security are more than priorities – they are commitments we uphold every day to ensure our students and staff thrive in a protected environment,” Superintendent Gudiel R. Crosthwaite, Ph.D. said. “These new systems represent a significant step forward, equipping us with the tools to respond to incidents swiftly and effectively and ensure the peace of mind of everyone in our District.”
The District’s commitment to safety extends to having a School Safety Task Force, regular staff training, drills and collaborative efforts with local law enforcement to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios.