North Carolina School for the Deaf
Campus-wide Security Improvements
The North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) provides student-center, standards-based instruction to deaf and hard-of-hearing students. NCSD is a residential campus, and students have the option to live on campus full-time or part-time. They also have the option to extend the school day to stay on campus a little longer if they live locally. The school opened in 1894, and what was the original school building is now one of the residential buildings. The campus is 68 acres and provides for just over 60 students. The school has a 3:1 student-teacher ratio, which allows teachers to have focused time with each student and help them become lifelong learners. Before McGill’s work, the campus buildings were renovated between 2003 and 2004. Those renovations have since aged out, and NCSD hired McGill to make additional updates. McGill worked on 12 buildings, both residential and academic, with the goal of improving campus-wide security.
The Challenge
NCSD needed an emergency system that effectively notified people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Many of the faculty are also deaf or hard-of-hearing, so the system needed to be updated so that all people on campus were able to understand emergency alerts. Additionally, the school did not have video surveillance throughout the campus or in the classrooms, and students and teachers could only get in and out of buildings with physical keys. NCSD wanted to improve their emergency messaging system, install video surveillance, and update the building access for the safety of all people on campus.
Our Solution
Large monitor screens were added to all the classrooms for normal instructional use and for emergency messaging. Now, if students and faculty need to be notified of an emergency, the message will appear on every screen. The message flashes across the screen to ensure all people on campus are drawn to look at it. We coordinated with a vendor to incorporate an app that is also connected to the emergency system, which allows students, faculty, and parents to receive emergency updates on their phones. For surveillance, we installed cameras around the campus, and we updated the building access by setting up an electronic system. This new system allows people to communicate between buildings and unlock doors from a distance, which makes moving between buildings easier and safer.
The Results
NCSD is an exceptional school that provides an immersive learning experience for students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, and this project is custom fit for their needs. At McGill, we know that each project, each client, and each community is different, and we approach all work with that in mind. The campus-wide security improvements for NCSD are unique to their system and needs. The new emergency communications system, video surveillance, and access control have significantly improved the school’s safety and security.
“These students and families shouldn’t be concerned about safety. These teachers are more than just teachers–and this school should be as safe as a home. Knowing that families can be comfortable with where their kids are at school is so important.”
Example of a new screen in a classroom at the North Carolina School for the Deaf
Innovation
Customization
Commitment