In the midst of first semester, Naperville North High School installed a district-wide wearable emergency alert system for staff in order to enhance school safety and speed up emergency response times. The system, Centegix, is set to be fully operational by late January or early February, with the following training sessions scheduled for early this year.
First introduced to all D203 schools by District Security Head Luca Miso in the spring of 2024, Centegix features wearable badges equipped with an alert button, a measure mentioned by NNHS Assistant Principal of Operations Greg Hodges. According to Hodges, staff members were briefed on the system’s operation during an October meeting, which emphasized pressing the button a certain number of times, depending on the situation. According to Centegix, they also allow remote activation with their app, allowing teachers to broadcast emergencies to students on and off campus.
“The key is to make sure the system is reliable and clear. We want staff to feel confident in using it, knowing exactly what to do in an emergency,” Hodges said.
Unlike the fixed call buttons in classrooms, the district’s new badges allow staff to request help from any location, providing quicker responses. While existing methods have resolved past emergencies efficiently, district leaders hope Centegix will remove delays in communication. The district’s new system aligns with a growing trend in school safety technology. Similar systems have been adopted in other schools, including a Georgia district where badge-based technology reduced emergency response during an on-campus incident.
Hardware installation began on Nov. 5, when there was no school due to elections. The installation included connecting nodes with strobe lights in classrooms, offices and mobile units. The Centegix system now connects with the PA system and is also linked to 911 dispatch centers in case of a high-level emergency. Progress updates have been primarily focused on individual school readiness, with teachers receiving their new badges soon.
While the system is still new, adjustments may be needed as it is introduced to the school. However, Hodges is optimistic about its long-term benefits, and emphasizes how the system will ensure clear communication and a firm peace of mind should any future incidents occur.
“This is more just an investment in being consistent. It’s not that we haven’t had good responses before, but this will provide that consistency to make sure we never have a future issue that gets delayed due to a lack of communication,” Hodges said.