Customer Profile
Pueblo County School District 70
Largest geographical school district in Colorado
- 20 schools
- 9,500 students
- 57 bus routes
Motorola Solution
- MOTOTRBO XPR™ 7500 Portable Radios
- MOTOTRBO XPR 3500 Portable Radios
- XTL™ 1500 Mobile Radios
- APX™ 4000 Portable Radios
- XPR 8400 Repeaters
- SchoolSAFE Network 5.0
Pueblo County School District 70 (D-70) spans 2,400 square miles in central Colorado, where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains. As the largest district geographically in the state, D-70 enrolls approximately 9,500 students across 20 schools.
School safety is a paramount concern for Colorado administrators and their colleagues nationwide. A 2015 study indicated that 97 percent of U.S. educators consider it their top priority, and 96 percent believe having always-available communications for emergencies is important.
Colorado is the first state to envision "communications interoperability" to connect its schools with first responders, enabling personnel to communicate instantly on any radio with public safety.
Like many K-12 schools nationally, Pueblo County School D-70 recognized the need to upgrade its communication system for improved emergency preparedness and response. They found that the innovative partnership of Motorola digital technology and the SchoolSAFE network enhanced safety and efficiency district-wide.
Features
- Instant, clear, reliable communications
- Connects schools and first responders together in real time
- Seamless interoperability and faster response
- Sustainable "Certified Ready" safety training
[Image description: A woman in a high-visibility vest, holding a radio, stands in front of a school bus with students behind her, illustrating a school safety or emergency response scenario.]
The Challenge
Connect Quickly and Directly to First Responders
School administrators understand that in an emergency, every moment counts. Whether facing an everyday incident like a sports injury or an extraordinary event like an active shooter, schools need to interact effectively and swiftly with first responders. Kirk Taylor, Sheriff of Pueblo County, described the previous situation: "Even though we had an excellent relationship with the district, communication with their schools was like a string and a can."
Mark Mears, Bureau Chief at the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, added, "When our first responders responded to calls, they didn't have any updates via their radios. Communications were spotty at best coming in from the schools. There was no interoperability.”
Communicate and Collaborate Across the District
Greg Keasling, Director of Student Services for Pueblo County School D-70, recalled, "We had a mix of radios of all ages or no radios in our schools. We didn't have any radios at our central office so we had to manage crises disparately. We needed to pull information together to make decisions as quickly as possible - from janitors to administrators - before it even went out to first responders. We realized that to improve school safety, we had to be part of a bigger process with local agencies."
Pueblo County School D-70 and public safety agencies sought a unified, reliable solution to bridge these gaps, aiming for real-time communication and collaboration among schools, the district, and ultimately, first responders.
The Solution
MOTOTRBO Digital Radios and SchoolSAFE Team Together
Pueblo County sought a communications solution to improve technology and prepare personnel for any risk. Motorola and SchoolSAFE offered an ideal partnership. Their intelligent communication solution integrates all entities with hardware, software, and "Certified Ready" training, enabling diverse personnel using various radios (analog, digital, P25 public safety) to communicate instantly when needed. Motorola and SchoolSAFE provide a multi-prong approach:
I. Clear, Reliable, Real-Time Technology
Approximately 100 MOTOTRBO two-way digital radios were installed to supplement the district's existing radios, with five at each school's communications site. MOTOTRBO digital radios connect instantly to the SchoolSAFE network with a button press. The SchoolSAFE network then links directly to public safety dispatchers at local 9-1-1 call centers.
Once the SchoolSAFE network is activated by 9-1-1, school safety teams use their MOTOTRBO radios to communicate directly with 9-1-1 dispatchers and first responders en route to an incident. This ensures everyone is on the same channel, receiving regular updates and real-time information, rather than relying on fragmented or incomplete communication. MOTOTRBO digital radios are user-friendly for school personnel and provide clear voice communication in noisy environments and challenging terrain.
During routine events, schools typically use their own radios and frequencies to avoid public safety channels. However, when critical response information is required, the SchoolSAFE network can be activated to unify radio communications.
II. Real-Life Scenarios and Regular Training
The SchoolSAFE team assisted in developing policies, procedures, and relationships with key Pueblo County stakeholders, including local law enforcement and other responding agencies. Central to the Motorola and SchoolSAFE solution is comprehensive training for schools, the district, and first responders.
The SchoolSAFE training protocol includes hands-on practice with Motorola two-way radios, system operations, interoperability, and annual testing to certify the system, personnel, and procedures. With support from Motorola and SchoolSAFE, each school forms its own safety team and participates in regular tactical training exercises. The objective is to build a sustainable foundation of trained staff and safety teams equipped to respond to all types of events.
Teachers and administrators learn to operate two-way radios and interoperate with public safety, enabling efficient information conveyance and accelerated response during incidents. Students and parents also participate in exercises, contributing to a greater sense of confidence, as noted by School Superintendent Ed Smith, who stated they feel more confident knowing the administration and first responders are working to keep schools safe.
In addition to training and drills, weekly testing of the SchoolSAFE network, along with regular monitoring and maintenance by Motorola, ensures reliable communications.
"MOTOTRBO and SchoolSAFE greatly improve response because information comes in directly from the schools through this interoperability."
— Mark Mears, Bureau Chief, Pueblo County Sheriff's Office
[SchoolSAFE Communications Logo]
The Benefits
Instant Interoperability and Seamless Collaboration
Law enforcement, the sheriff's office, fire service, and all 20 schools in Pueblo County D-70 are now unified with seamless communications during emergencies. This interoperability is crucial, as traditional public safety P25 radios and school radios are often incompatible.
Sheriff Kirk Taylor emphasized the impact: "In an incident where seconds save lives, this direct communication has the potential to make a world of difference. Whether it is them giving us information we use to make tactical decisions during a critical event at the school or us advising them on a lockdown or shelter request when there is potential danger in their area, having this immediate notification means the students are safer, and so are the deputies.”
With SchoolSAFE and MOTOTRBO digital radios, personnel can communicate directly with schools, bus drivers, and first responders as an event unfolds, using their own equipment. First responders can provide instructions and directions to school safety teams without delay, and even broadcast alerts and time-sensitive information over the school's public address (PA) systems.
Since 9-1-1 dispatchers control the communication flow, the response is streamlined and more efficient. Schools use their own radios and frequencies during routine events but can connect with public safety responders during critical situations.
Intelligent School Communications That are Cost-Effective
Funding is often a major constraint for communication upgrades in districts nationwide. District personnel at D-70 found that Motorola and SchoolSAFE provided the most cost-effective way to connect staff across their 2,400 square mile region, in addition to offering critical education and training.
After implementation, school safety teams built relationships, tested the solution, and found that the MOTOTRBO radios and SchoolSAFE network prevailed. This intelligent communication solution delivers the right tools to the right people, supported by sustainable training, ensuring everyone is prepared.
Accelerated Response Beyond Emergencies
As Pueblo County's first responders trained for scenarios like an "active shooter," they quickly saw how MOTOTRBO and SchoolSAFE could minimize risks and response times for everyday issues. For instance, when school buses break down or are delayed by snow, district personnel can send a single, unified message to all schools via SchoolSAFE to share weather alerts and updates.
Bureau Chief Mark Mears stated, "This communication solution is key to enable efficient situational awareness, not just for an active shooter, but for all types of school-related issues." Teachers use MOTOTRBO radios to coordinate regular events more effectively, from elementary school recess to off-campus lunch. Daily operations run more smoothly, and Pueblo County schools are better equipped to handle routine issues while maintaining the ability to connect directly with first responders in emergencies via SchoolSAFE.
Strengthening School Safety District-Wide
The innovative combination of Motorola and SchoolSAFE intelligent communications and real-life training provides Pueblo County School D-70 with the essential tools to keep students and personnel safe. Sheriff Kirk Taylor commented, "We are parents of students, too. I believe it is critical to have this type of communication to keep them safe. To have the best solution and best response is important so that we can say we did everything possible to prevent that and protect them. I can't imagine anyone not wanting to have this technology and interoperability in their schools.”
"This communication solution is key to enable efficient situational awareness, not just for an active shooter, but for all types of school-related issues."
— Mark Mears, Bureau Chief, Pueblo County Sheriff's Office
Learn More
To transform your school's emergency readiness and response, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/education or contact your local Motorola representative.
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