TAYLOR (WWJ) -- A public school district in Wayne County is taking action to protect students, following the deadly mass shooting at Oxford High School in neighboring Oakland County.
The Taylor School District unanimously approved a $1.7 million safety system to link together teachers, administrators and local law enforcement in the event of an emergency, district officials announced on Thursday.
The district's Superintendent, Griff Mills, explained to WWJ's Jon Hewitt the new safety plan came about because of the tragedy in Oxford.
“When tragic things happen, it brings it to the forefront, makes you think more about it and you try to respond appropriately," Mills said.
"That’s really what we’ve tried to do. We love our kids, we love our staff, we want to keep people safe as possible."
The district would see a tablet computer and "Smart Box" system -- designed by LockOut -- outfitted in every classroom. A Bluetooth enabled alert can be activated by removing a thick, steel plate out of the Smart Box, instantly notifying fellow teachers, administrators, and law enforcement of an emergency.
The steel plate is also designed as a door jam that can withstad up to 16,000 lbs of pressure.
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“We want to everything we can do to keep our people safe," Mills stressed.
The safety system can also be used in non-emergency situations where police is not needed.
Mills explained that in the event of medical issues or situations where students need more help, the system will alert other staff and administrators who can respond appropriately.
Installation of the safety system is expected to start over the summer break, with all buildings fully outfitted by fall. Officials said the $1.7 million project is being financed from the district's general fund.
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