Page 80 - Security Today, January/February 2021

"Ensuring a safe environment is a growing challenge for schools and colleges today: theft, fights and bullying are some of the problems that not only affect students, but also teachers, employees and, ultimately, the government entities that subsidize the educational system."
Puerto Rico protects more than 850 public schools with the help of Mile- stone Systems software
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico needed to implement a central- ized and efficient perimeter security system for all public schools on the island. Intru- sions and assaults at educational institutions have increased, and Hurricane Maria further exacerbated problems with the destruction
of infrastructure.
The need to repair hurricane damage also
provided opportunities to invest in modern improvements. The Department of Educa- tion chose to install a video surveillance sys- tem with more than 10,000 cameras, speak- ers and other security devices in 856 schools. In the same way, a centralized control center was established using the corporate version of Milestone Systems XProtect® VMS.
Ensuring a safe environment is a growing challenge for schools and colleges today: theft, fights and bullying are some of the problems that not only affect students, but also teachers, employees and, ultimately, the government entities that subsidize the edu- cational system.
In Puerto Rico, for example, the Depart- ment of Education was concerned about the increase in unauthorized intrusions, robber- ies and assaults within its schools. This index shot up after Hurricane Maria destroyed much of the island's infrastructure in 2017.
Even before this natural phenomenon, there was no centralized security system that integrated an overview of all schools. There were disparate installations of video surveil- lance equipment (cameras, alarms and light- ing) but only in approximately 250 of the schools. After the hurricane, instead of invest- ing in the repair and purchase of separate sys- tems, top priority was given to providing perimeter security for all schools through an effective centralized command center.
“The hurricane damaged the island's com- munication and lighting systems, a circum-
By Barbara Rizzatti
Protecting Public Schools
Campus Software
Puerto Rico Department of Education concerned about increased intrusion and robberies
36 campuslifesecurity.com | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
stance that promoted intrusions into schools, and subsequently increased vandalism. We had no visibility of what was happening and we could not find a way to avoid these escala- tions,” said César González Cordero, Securi- ty Commissioner for the Puerto Rico Department of Education. “However, we could not afford to buy and repair equipment individually for all schools, so a centralized and coordinated effort was necessary.”
Based on this context, González said, the proposal was born to begin the process to acquire a video surveillance system for pub-
lic schools in Puerto Rico, focused on perim- eter security.
Perimeter Security for all Schools
Genesis Security Services, Inc. of Puerto Rico was selected to develop the perimeter security project for the 856 public schools on the island. This Puerto Rican corporation was founded in 1997 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico by brothers, Roberto and Emilio Morales, who are leaders in security services at the government level.
“We have been providing security to the