Digital County: Marshall County Alabama: Enhancing School Safety with Digital Dashboards

Background

Marshall County, Alabama, is located in the northeastern part of the state, bordered by the scenic Lake Guntersville to the west and the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the east. With its blend of small towns and rural landscapes, Marshall County is known for its outdoor recreational opportunities, including fishing, hiking, and boating. Marshall County’s economy is supported by agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, reflecting its diverse community and commitment to growth.

Austin Windsor, Communications and IT Specialist for the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency has spent most of his life in the county and has been dedicated to digitizing the County operations across various departments for years as he pioneered the implementation of a virtual collaboration and response platform. 

In this two-part webinar series, Windsor gave an overview of his advancements on both Marshall Counties Emergency Management and school side as the county furthers their mission of strengthening community preparedness and safety through digitization.

Enhancing School Safety with Digital Dashboards

In addition to managing the Emergency Management operations in Marshall County, Austin Windsor, Communications and IT Specialist for the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency, works closely with the local schools and school systems to ensure constant and seamless sharing of critical emergency and daily data. 

This webinar highlights:

• The School Resource Officer (SRO) Admin Dashboard, which enables real-time reporting of incidents and security threat analyses across multiple campuses Attendees will see how the platform provides system-wide school status updates, including active incident mapping and color-coded charts that facilitate quick assessments. Additionally, the integration of lockdown and evacuation statuses linked directly to the EMA ensures that schools can effectively communicate and respond to emergencies.
• Reunification features of the platform, which streamline the process of student check-ins and reunification reporting for parents and guardians. With live floor plans accessible on all dashboards, including those for SROs and principals, schools can manage reunification efficiently during crises.
• The Weather Situation Awareness Dashboard, automatically updated from the National Weather Service, links back to the EMA, providing critical weather alerts and situational awareness to help schools prepare for any potential threats.