Florence, South Carolina – Florence 1 Schools adopted a sophisticated digital mapping technology in a groundbreaking effort to improve school safety, enhancing the way first responders tackle emergencies on campus. First implemented on three high school campuses—including South Florence Freshman Academy and adjacent Advantage Academy—this program represents a major step toward the district’s dedication to staff and student safety.
Using state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, the collaboration with Minnesota-based GeoComm produces comprehensive digital plans of school buildings. These maps contain vital information such the locations of fire extinguishers and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), which can save lives in an emergency; they are not only blueprints.
Deputy Superintendent Kyle Jones underlined the need of the new method in guaranteeing quick response during emergencies.
“Time is of the essence during any emergency,” Jones said in a press release. “If we can remove barriers for emergency personnel when they are called to our campuses, we are going to do that. We are thankful that the technology GeoComm provides cuts down on the amount of time that could be spent trying to gain access to a building, instead allowing first responders to use that time to actually respond to the emergency.”
GeoComm’s interactive maps allow users to perform real-time searches for specific rooms or points of interest within a school, a feature that significantly streamlines the process for emergency responders. GeoComm Vice President of Sales & Marketing Bill McCullough commended Florence 1 for their proactive approach.
“We’re extremely proud to work with Florence 1 as they lead the way in school safety across South Carolina by adopting GeoComm’s interactive school maps,” McCullough said.
GeoComm personnel conducted thorough on-site assessments as part of the implementation process, verifying and documenting the floor designs Florence 1 Schools had submitted. With the help of this practical method, the digital maps are as precise and useful as possible, detailing everything from room sizes to key locations like entrances and exits.
Florence County Sheriff T.J. Joye expressed his support for the district’s ongoing efforts to enhance safety measures.
“Over the last several years, the district has adopted many new procedures to help keep our students and our community safe. We appreciate their willingness to advance their security efforts with the implementation of innovative technology such as these interactive digital maps,” Joye remarked.
With aspirations to expand to all 24 schools in the district, the effort is currently concentrated on the high schools in the district with the goal of offering a safer learning environment across the board.
