Long Island Private Schools Case Study

AtlasIED upgraded audio and security in the classrooms, common areas, and main offices.

Schools in Long Island North Shore Turn to AtlasIED’s IPX Family for Communication Improvements.

Following World War II, New York’s Jewish population recognized the need for a Jewish school that promoted academic excellence, inclusivity, and Jewish learning, and a Hebrew private school was born. Over its 70-year history, the original school has expanded to three schools across Long Island, welcoming over 1100 students and 250+ faculty from Long Island and the Metro NY areas.

A new security director was brought on at the schools two years ago, who had experience at another private school where the quality of the lockdown, mass notification, and PA systems was much more robust. He wanted to increase security across all three campuses and knew what was possible from a technology standpoint. The old system had things he liked, but also some gaps. Thankfully, AtlasIED’s security technology solutions had the added capabilities he was looking for.

The schools had collaborated with SecureTech Systems for several years on their audio and security systems. When funding became available for upgrades, the school naturally chose SecureTech to implement the improvements

School staff had checked out other systems and were not as impressed by those compared to AtlasIED’s IPX mass communication solution,“ said Jawad Khalfan, CEO of SecureTech Systems. “They were super excited about the IPX capabilities.

The total scope of the upgrade included cameras, card access control, data rack cleanups, network upgrades, installation of access points, and low-voltage equipment and cabling. However, a significant portion involved AtlasIED audio and security upgrades in the classrooms, common areas, and main offices.

The new communication system was designed around an AtlasIED IP-SDMF IP endpoint loudspeaker with an LCD display, LED flashers, and a talkback microphone, which were installed in over 80 classrooms. SecureTech installed a vandal-proof VPB-1A call switch under the loudspeakers to initiate calls from classrooms to each school’s main office, where an IP-CONSOLE-GH is installed. The gooseneck microphone, built-in loudspeaker, and graphical user-friendly interface on the IP-CONSOLE-GH allow the operator to select any or all zones for live day-to-day announcements or a single zone for two-way communication. The operator can also select a single zone and use the handset for private intercom sessions.

IP—APX constant directivity high—output IP horns were installed in the high school gym and the building’s exterior to ensure that critical alerts, bell schedules, and prerecorded & scheduled announcements could be heard clearly in those areas.

Budget constraints prevented all of the analog equipment from being replaced, so the AtlasIED IP—ZCM IP—to—analog gateways proved invaluable by allowing the IPX endpoints to interact with the school’s existing analog systems during the upgrades. This allowed messages to be heard throughout the school simultaneously.

SecureTech also expanded campus safety capabilities using Singlewire’s InformaCast mass communications software. Using InformaCast, designated school personnel can initiate an alert from a mobile device wherever they are. The software then sends text messages to faculty, students, and parents’ mobile devices, alerts law enforcement, and activates attention—grabbing audio alarms and scrolling text messages on the LCD displays on IPX devices throughout the campus.

School staff are very happy with the audio upgrades. The software is extremely easy to use, the audio clarity in the classrooms, common areas, and the main offices is exceptional. The ability to send pre—recorded messages from their phones is a huge benefit. The hybrid capability with the analog system has also proven very popular.

“One of the biggest positives of the AtlasIED system is that it’s not all or nothing,“ said Khalfan. Many retrofits don’t have enough funding to replace everything all at once, and it’s obvious AtlasIED recognizes that fact. So, if a customer wants or needs to continue using analog hardware, AtlasIED can make everything work, which is a huge plus. Their platform is extremely flexible.