Schools have always been a place to learn a lot of things about a lot of things.

They give our children the opportunity to grow physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually — just a few of the lessons among myriad activities in education settings across the country.

And they obligate us as responsible adults to keep the children inside them safe.

It comes as good news, then, that Jim Thorpe Area School District is exploring new ways to do that.

At a recent meeting, the school board discussed installing a new type of technology that would speed response times and notifications in the event of an emergency at any of their schools.

The technology, similar to a system that saved lives during a school shooting incident at a high school in Apalachee, Georgia, earlier this fall.

Only a week after it was installed, officials there say the technology played a significant role in getting law enforcement to the scene. Investigators say police responded moments after a call of “shots fired” came through and prevented a much larger tragedy.

The technology involves outfitting high school staffers with wearable “panic buttons” they would activate if needed. The buttons are adaptable and able to perform various tasks based on a situation.

In the Georgia incident, for example, the system allowed a teacher to press a button multiple times, triggering a lockdown, notifying local police and sending flashing alerts throughout the school.

And they’re relatively inexpensive to install and maintain.

At a recent meeting, Superintendent Robert Presley told Jim Thorpe Area school directors it would cost about $43,800 initially. Those costs, he said, would be offset by discontinuing other security systems that would no longer be necessary.

After that, maintaining the system would cost about $18,000 annually, he said.

Interest in security devices like the panic buttons has increased in the last few years as the push for school security laws increases across the nation.

A huge driver has been a state-by-state push to pass Alyssa’s Law, named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old victim of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The law calls for public schools to install silent panic alarms linked to law enforcement.

Seven states have already passed the proposal. Some require silent panic alarms, while others mandate schools must consider the technology.

In Pennsylvania, both chambers of the General Assembly moved similar legislation to committees.

Locally, we’ve been fortunate when it comes to school-related emergencies. Certainly, there have been threats recorded in addition to “swatting” incidents which involve a call or other contact regarding an emergency that triggers a swift and mass response by local police.

And there’s always the threat of someone with a gun.

Law enforcement and other first responders train for the possibility of those events and there are no guarantees that any security system can stop them.

But these panic button systems can help in that they provide a direct line of communication with police and first responders.

They can help teachers and staff react quickly as well as act as a possible deterrent to any potential threats just by the fact they exist.

The buttons can be versatile, integrating with others like surveillance cameras or public address systems.

Knowing a button system is in place can help reassure parents and add a new layer of safety measures when it comes to their children while in school.

Adding to that is the systems are able to be installed in classrooms, offices, common areas or virtually anywhere on school property without major changes in buildings or other property.

Of course, there’s no guarantee they can prevent an incident at any school.

With training and familiarity, students, parents and first responders can benefit.

They’re not an end-all answer to a problem that’s become all too common over the years.

But at about $8 per student, the added layer of security is well worth the price.

ED SOCHA | tneditor@tnonline.com

Ed Socha is a retired newspaper editor with more than 40 years’ experience in community journalism.

The foregoing opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or Times News LLC.