Lehighton Area School District officials are eyeing the purchase of the Raptor Emergency Management System, a comprehensive school safety program designed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.

School Police Officer John Orsulak, who presented the details of the system Monday night, emphasized its ability to assist schools in handling emergencies ranging from routine incidents to worst-case scenarios such as active shooter situations.

“The Raptor Emergency Management program gives schools the tools to prepare, respond to, and recover from an emergency,” he said.

He highlighted that the software can manage drills, instantly notify first responders, account for individuals, and reunify students with their families efficiently.

Gretchen Laviolette, director of Lehighton’s technology department, addressed the cost of implementing the system.

“We are looking to incorporate this into the technology budget for next school year,” she said.

The initial cost estimate, she said, is around $10,000 for the first year, including startup costs, with an annual fee of approximately $6,600 thereafter.

Monday’s discussion also touched on the legislative push for silent notifications in schools.

Orsulak referenced Alyssa’s Law, named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who was killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“Her mom founded a nonprofit organization called Make Our Schools Safe, which has been instrumental in introducing legislation for silent panic alarms,” he explained.

In Pennsylvania, Senate Bill 1206 was originally introduced in May 2024 and is expected to be reintroduced in the 2025-26 legislative session.

The Raptor system is structured around four key components: drill management, alert notifications, accountability, and reunification. According to Orsulak, the software provides documentation for state-mandated drills and allows schools to customize alerts for specific needs.

“It’s important how you conduct those drills, but it’s also what you learn from those drills,” he said. “Using the software, you can analyze performance, understand gaps and weaknesses, and gain critical insight.”

One of the major features of the Raptor system is its silent panic notification, which allows staff members to instantly alert 911 and other emergency responders.

“A staff member can just hit that alert button, and it notifies the 911 center and all police immediately,” Orsulak said.

The system also allows for continuous updates during an emergency, including text communications when a lockdown requires silence.

“The software integrates with our student management system, PowerSchool, so all the information from those students will be right there at the hands of staff members,” Orsulak said.

He noted that it also verifies guardian identities and scans for custody restrictions or sex offender records.

“The recovery starts when the crisis begins, and having a low-management reunification process reduces the trauma of a school emergency,” he added.

Several board members raised questions regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the system. Director Jeremy Glaush inquired whether a trial period would be available.

“Jim Thorpe School District recently purchased the program and is in the process of implementing it,” Orsulak responded. He noted officials had participated in Zoom training sessions demonstrating the system’s functions.

Concerns were also raised regarding staff accessibility to the system and whether it would replace walkie-talkies.

“When it comes to an emergency, this is far more streamlined than using the radio,” Orsulak said. “It immediately notifies not only the school team but also emergency responders.”

The system can be accessed via staff Chromebooks and personal devices.

“Even if their phone is on silent, the app will override it to ensure they receive the notification,” Laviolette added.

Glaush expressed interest in seeing a live demonstration of the system once implemented.

“When this gets voted in, maybe we could be invited to watch everything in action during a drill,” he said.

Lehighton is expected to vote on purchasing the system in the coming months.