Centegix Crisis Alert System

All HCS employees are issued a CrisisAlert badge. This also includes substitutes while they are working on a campus.

There are two types of alerts. Three clicks will initiate a Staff Alert. This is an individual call for help that might include medical emergencies, disruptive behavior, or the immediate need for administrators or emergency personnel. Administrators and local police receive a notification that a Staff Alert has been initiated. They are able to see who initiated the alert and where they are so they can respond quickly to the situation.

If a staff member sees a threat to a campus, they can immediately initiate a campuswide Lockdown by continuously pushing the button on the badge. This will activate strobe lights in the classrooms and hallways, and a Lockdown announcement will play over the intercom system. Again, administrators and emergency personnel can see who activated the Lockdown and where they are so they can respond immediately. 

It's important for parents to understand that lockdowns can occur for various reasons, and it's not always due to an active assailant. With the implementation of CENTEGIX, lockdowns may happen more frequently because all staff members are empowered to initiate them. Accidental or “unintended” lockdowns can happen with any panic button solution.

In the event that a school goes into lockdown, we want to assure you that the safety of our students is our top priority. During a lockdown, all doors are locked, lights are off, and everyone moves away from sight, and remains silent. We ask that parents/guardians avoid coming to the school or calling the office. It is crucial that we do not impede the response of our first responders. We will update you via our mass notification system, which may consist of a phone call and email, as further information is provided in the case of a lockdown. 

In any emergency situation, we urge parents to obtain information from trustworthy and reliable sources, including the school district and local law enforcement agencies.

CrisisAlert provides coverage both inside and outside HCS buildings. This includes coverage of our HCS parking lots, playgrounds, and athletic facilities.

The badges operate independently of any Wi-Fi or cellular network, so Wi-Fi or a cellphone app is not needed to use the badges. 

If you visit a campus, you may see our HCS employees wearing the CrisisAlert badges. The badges are a white card that say Centegix. There is a button on the card that allows staff to call for help.

No, the badges do not track the location of staff. The only time a location is shared is when they push the button to call for help. Once an alert is initiated by pushing the button, administrators and local police can see the location so they can immediately respond to the area.