03 Sep Council Bluffs Community School District (CBCSD) Receives $119,428 Grant from the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Council Bluffs Community School District was recently awarded a $119,428 grant from the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide an enhanced security system to mitigate potential threats.

Council Bluffs Community School District will utilize grant funding to support implementation of an integrated electronic security system to provide twenty-four hour a day and seven days a week door access and video surveillance at the district or individual building level. The district will have the ability to perform a district wide emergency lock down of all buildings, or each individually from a central location, or from select mobile devices.

Council Bluffs Community School District will utilize the new technology (door locks and cameras) to accurately identify worst-case but plausible threats and hazards to the buildings in the district and provide timely and accurate data on those threats (prevention). This monitoring system will allow them to determine the severity of a potential security breach. It will also allow continual processing of data in real time.  This information will inform the district’s emergency management response.  Based upon information from the monitoring system, data-based decisions can quickly be made about the severity of potential threats and hazards.  District officials working together will decide whether to lock down a single building; when to call in local police, fire department, or rescue crews; and when a situation needs to be transferred to state or federal authorities.

The Council Bluffs Community School District is a public school district in Council Bluffs, Iowa, serving most of the city of Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, and Crescent.  “The Council Bluffs Community School District is where every student experiences more choices, more opportunities and more ways to succeed.  Every day, we ignite potential across academics, athletics, fine arts and extra-curricular activities so that each child is able to access – and celebrate – their unique gifts and abilities. Within this culture of expertise, collaboration, and caring, we prepare students to be their best selves.”