The Remsenburg-Speonk School District is taking school safety to the next level. As one of the first schools on the East End to implement the Centegix Crisis Alert system, the district is setting a new standard for rapid response and communication during emergencies — all in partnership with the Southampton Town Police Department.

Recently, the elementary school conducted its first Secure Lockdown Drill using the new technology, which sends an alert directly to the dispatch center at Southampton Town Police Department through a wearable badge system. When a staff member presses the alert button multiple times, it instantly notifies police dispatch and school officials, providing the exact location of the alert and the name of the individual who initiated it.

Within moments of activation during the drill, police central command received notification through Centegix, while School Resource Officer Tony Vecchio remained in continuous contact with dispatch throughout the exercise. The system simultaneously triggered a building-wide response: hallway and classroom beacons illuminated, sirens sounded, digital clocks and smartboards displayed clear lockdown instructions, and the public address system broadcast messages both inside and outside the building.

“The system worked exactly as intended,” said Remsenburg-Speonk Superintendent Denise Sullivan. “Our staff and students responded quickly and calmly, and our coordination with Southampton Town Police was seamless. This level of real-time communication is invaluable for school safety.”

In classrooms equipped with interactive displays, a scrolling message and audible instructions reminded students and staff to move to safety, remain silent, and await clearance from authorities. Once the “all clear” signal was given, Officer Vecchio and the administrative team personally checked each classroom before reopening.

“What Remsenburg School is doing with its crisis alert system is cutting edge,” said Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan. “It has different levels of response. It’s right there on their lanyard. This is something that’s really working well with our partnership. What I really like about the system is the relationship it has with the police officer in the area. This system puts a map right in the dispatch area, and they will be guided right to where the response needs to be.”

The district also values the daily use of Centegix badges for on-campus incidents, particularly for providing immediate support during behavioral or medical situations. Each alert is logged and coded, allowing administrators to track data and identify trends to enhance response planning.

Following each drill, the school’s security and administrative teams meet to review the process and make improvements. The next drill will include additional collaboration with sector patrol officers to refine coordination further.

“This partnership with the Southampton Town Police Department, combined with Centegix’s innovative technology, gives our school an extra layer of protection,” said Superintendent Sullivan. “Our goal is to ensure that every student and staff member feels safe, supported, and prepared.”

Remsenburg-Speonk School plans to continue expanding its use of the system by upgrading more classrooms with new interactive boards, ensuring that every space in the building is fully integrated with this state-of-the-art safety solution.