Franklin Regional Makes Security System Updates

Franklin Regional School District has recently implemented major upgrades to their security system, including digital cameras, a visitor-access system, and badge readers for faculty, staff, and administrators.

The total cost of equipment, software, and installation was $900,000, according to Superintendent Gennaro Piraino.

The installations began the last week of school last year and lasted through August.

“With the advancements in technology, we knew that we wanted to purchase a system that integrates not only digital cameras, but also the badge reader systems as well as new visitor entrance systems for all schools across the district,” said Piraino.

Dagostino Electronic Services Incorporated, an agency based in Pittsburgh, installed the new system, according to Piraino.

Piraino explained that many different people were involved in the decision to upgrade. Staff, police, the local fire department, and community members all had a say in the decision, as well as the Board of Education approving the upgrades at a meeting this past Spring, according to Piraino.

“As an educational institution, we are constantly looking for ways to improve everything we do,” stated Piraino when asked why the decision was made. “We want to improve the educational process for students, the access to programs, classes, courses, opportunities outside of the classroom, the arts, and the academics, but we also know that safety is important. It is first and foremost in everyone’s mind.”

The cameras were upgraded to digital cameras, which provide a much clearer image than the previous system’s analog cameras.

“The images are clearer, so if [it was necessary] to present something in court, there would be a better chance of showing clear and convincing evidence,” said Head of Security Michael Virgin. “The cameras are much better at picking up motion than an analog camera. It also captures more frames per second.”

In addition to much clearer images, these new cameras can do a great deal more than the old ones.

“If someone would happen to prop a door, or there’s unusual activity around a door, the cameras will actually take images of the people at that door,” said Piraino. Badge readers were also installed across the district.

Badge readers are cards at the end of lanyards worn around the neck of each employee with the employee’s name, position, and picture on it.

“With respect to the badge reader, every one of our employees has a badge. People swipe in and out, so we always know who is in the building and employees are clearly identifiable,” said Piraino.

The last big change made to the security system was the addition of a visitor-access system.

At the elementary schools and middle school, there is a person greeting and signing in visitors out front, and at the high school, there is a security guard doing the same, according to Principal Ron Suvak.

If an adult needs to enter the building during the school day, the greeter or guard runs the visitor’s driver’s license through the system, which is able to see if he or she has a criminal record.

Next, a picture of the visitor is printed out with the purpose of his or her visit, time he or she is entering the building, and time he or she is to exit, according to Suvak.

The badges are also color-coded according to the time of day, so security can know when the visitor’s time in the building is up by whether or not his or her badge color matches the current time period’s color, according to Piraino.

According to Security Officer George Fiorentini, who uses the visitor-access system on a daily basis, it is not hard to work with, and is a positive update because it protects the students.

“In terms of user-friendliness, [the new system] is much more user-friendly. All the principals [and other members of the administrative team] are able to use it just as fluidly as I can,” said Virgin. “Saving files and exporting files is much easier than it was [with] the old system.”

While the updates to the visitor-access system may not be a problem for the security guard or greeter using them, they could prove to be problematic for a visitor if he or she does not have his or her driver’s license.

Rohini Selokar, mother of an FRHS student, has visited the school since the upgrades were put in place.

“It’s not difficult. It takes a couple of minutes [to be let in]. It’s a very quick process as long as you have your driver’s license,” said Selokar.

Selokar felt that the upgrades were positive because they were good for the safety of the students and the school environment. The security upgrades also have ties to the Murrysville Police Department.

According to Student Resource Officer Dave Hanko, the Murrysville Police have the ability to view the security cameras of the schools on their car computer screens.

Hanko’s job is to ensure the safety of students at Franklin Regional. Hanko is not the first Student Resource Officer. The job has been fulfilled by other Murrysville Police Officers before him.

Some students and community members may wonder why these upgrades came about.

Some may question whether the upgrades were solely a result of the event that occurred on April 9th, a year and a half ago.

“Our security system needed to be upgraded.... [April 9th] was not the spark for security upgrades. The plans were in place prior to that. Some occurred prior to the events of April 9th, 2014. The continuation of the plan is not a direct result of that event.... Irrespective of the events of that day and the aftermath, the security upgrades were planning to occur anyways,” said Suvak.

After years of planning and months of installation, the upgrades are finally here, and the majority of comments are positive.

“From a principal’s perspective, I’m very, very happy that [the security system upgrade] is here,” said Suvak. “I’m very thankful to our community and our Board for supporting the project.”

Note: this article was originally published in Franklin Regional High School's newspaper The Panther.