by Ann Withanee — October 25, 2010—The New Jersey Paramus Public Schools have installed Genetec’s unified security platform, the Security Center, at all eight of its school campuses, according to Genetec. It was important to Paramus to select an all-in-one system like Genetec’s Security Center, which provides one interface for both video surveillance and access control. Using an IP system was ideal as it has allowed security data to be shared between campuses over the network and has saved Paramus considerable cabling costs.
Paramus preserved a few previously existing analogue cameras using IP encoders, and purchased over 100 new Panasonic IP cameras to complete the system. A Dell server was provided to each school, allowing video and security data to be stored locally to maximize network efficiency. Currently, Omnicast video surveillance and Synergis access control data can be viewed by authorized personnel located at each of the eight campuses.
Additionally, Paramus recently rebuilt the entrance to the high school, incorporating a new security control room for the entire district. Staffed security guards will manage the unified security platform spanning all eight campuses from this central location. The Security Center will also allow direct access to police and emergency services to allow for a quick response should the need ever arise.
For now, Paramus uses the video surveillance system of the Security Center, Omnicast, mainly as an investigative tool. It allows users to pull archived video to discover who committed an act of vandalism or theft, definitively prove “who started what” to parents, and more. Paramus also uses Omnicast to enhance emergency procedures and crowd control, evaluating the possibility of a fire code violation by monitoring the number of people at an event.
The access control system of the Security Center, Synergis, allows the schools to program doors to remain unlocked on schedule while students are arriving and to be locked down once classes have begun. Paramus was also able to use Synergis to configure cardholder groups including everything from full access cards for emergency responders, to cards provided to PTA members that only work during meeting times. Paramus is even able to provide non-access cards to community members who use the campus track recreationally. This helps Paramus monitor access to each campus, keeping cardholder information and pictures on file.
Paramus is currently in the process of implementing a backup system on a ninth server and are also actively working on providing the police department with full access to their network, so that officers can aide in remote monitoring. Further down the road, providing access cards to students will enable eventual integration with the library card system and cafeteria POS system for lunch purchases.
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Genetec’s Security Center provides a unified security platform in 8 campuses of Paramus (NJ) public schools.
