District leaders want panic buttons in all Seminole County schools

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — One day after a fatal school shooting in Nevada, Channel 9 has learned Seminole County school leaders want to install panic buttons to keep children safe.

Superintendent Walt Griffin wants to put the silent alarms, similar to ones used in banks, in every Seminole County school.

Following the Sandy Hook shooting, district leaders looked at their security across the county and determined panic buttons were a low-cost safety measure that could save lives.

Griffin is urging the school board to approve a $45,000 project to install the panic buttons not only in the 59 schools, but in all of the district buildings as well.

"That would be amazing," said parent Karla Jones.

Jones' daughter is in second grade at Eastbrook Elementary, where deputies said a father recently showed up drunk and threatened to kill the principal.

The silent alarm would immediately send a signal to Stanley Security Solutions, which would then dispatch law enforcement.

The district said the panic buttons would "result in an immediate alert to police agencies in the event of an emergency, improving response time and the overall safety and security of students and employees on campus."

"I think they need to do something for the kids and for the school and for the safety of everybody you know," said Jones.

School officials said they already have a security contract in place with Stanley for security monitoring so aside from the $45,000 installation, there would be no additional charge to run the system.

The school board is expected to vote on the measure Tuesday.

WFTV