Page 72 - Security Today, September/October 2023

KEY MANAGEMENT any city or county responder could access the system regardless of their agency. For Conklin, the small investment of purchas- ing key fobs for individual first responders seemed the logical solution. Not only did this strategy help comply with the Texas bills’ added requirements, but combining the infrastructure with the Traka Box and key fobs would create a unified system— unlike traditional solutions, which would not have sufficed because of the logistics involved in managing multiple keys for different police and fire districts. Today, more than 250 local first re- sponders carry intelligent key fobs that can quickly unlock every critical key in all NISD facilities. While the daunting task of man- aging so many credentials and keys might seem overwhelming, Conklin instituted robust security measures without rekey- ing any facility by combining the critical management features with the Knox Box and creating an environment that not only allows first responders and public officials easy access to any of the district’s facili- ties, but also delivers notifications should a key go missing or not be returned by a set curfew. Assigning curfews to every key in the Traka system means that any key not returned on time triggers an alert, notifying Conklin, who will initiate an in- vestigation and deactivate the fob if the key is indeed stolen or misplaced. Allowing first responders access to the district’s buildings during a crisis is only a part of the solution. With the new Texas House Bills in play, public safety officials must be familiar with the intricate details of each building for optimal responsive- ness during an active threat situation. That’s why Conklin actively invites local law enforcement to come to the school, access the building after hours, sign into the Traka system, and even have lunch or do paperwork on the campus to familiar- ize themselves with the layout. Additionally, local law enforcement assists in conducting active shooter drills throughout the year, an integral part of the district’s safety protocol. During these drills, staff and students are trained not to open the door for anyone in a lockdown, even if the person outside claims to be the police. An experienced officer is the only person authorized to unlock the doors, making it essential to equip responders correctly with keys and access for a safe release in emergencies. Wise County Emergency Management Coordinator Cody Powell recalls listening to Conklin’s presentation on the key and access control system and thinking about how it would work with the IT firewalls. However, he says NISD had already re- solved the issue by integrating it with their existing infrastructure, thereby facilitating first responders’ accessibility even before any crisis arose. According to Powell, by issuing criti- cal fobs to each responder, NISD made the Traka Box a central point accessible to all, allowing them to enter the buildings with ease and without any hassle for optimal response times. For Michael Conklin and NISD, inte- grating electronic key management with Traka Boxes has proven a significant step towards enhancing school security during active threat situations. NISD’s innovative approach has enabled local first respond- ers to gain swift access to critical keys and respond to emergencies promptly and ef- ficiently. This integration provides a uni- fied system that offers first responders an expedited and streamlined approach to accessing school buildings and the necessary keys during active threats. By taking proactive safety measures, NISD conveys that student and staff safety is their top priority. 12 PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THE INTRICATE DETAILS OF EACH BUILDING FOR OPTIMAL RESPONSIVENESS DURING AN ACTIVE THREAT SITUATION. “”