Plainfield District Locks Up with S2 Access Control

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 08/25/09

Plainfield Community School Corp. in Indiana has installed access control security equipment from S2 Security in its new high school.

The evaluation of access control technology for the new school was led by James Darnell, technology specialist at Schmidt Associates. The company designed the school building and managed the technology deployment, which included putting in an IP-based security system. After reviewing the access control options--and with input from security systems integrator Simplex Grinnell, which supplied the equipment and performed the installation--Darnell chose the S2 Enterprise, an IP-based security management system.

"Integrated, IP-based systems are the new generation of access control for schools," said Darnell. "Schools historically have given out a lot of keys--that was their access control. Most schools have no way of knowing who has keys, or who has which keys, and buildings aren't secure." The school uses a swipe card badge system. With the S2 implementation, users control who can enter the buildings and when and add or revoke privileges through a browser-based console. The school can also grant access to the elevator or the gym on a permanent or temporary basis.

The school has programmed doors to be open just before the start of the school day and locked when classes begin. At that point, a late student or visitor can only enter the building with the approval of front desk staff. If a door is propped open, the system alerts users.

According to John Crum, assistant principal of Plainfield High School, the decision to deploy an IP-based access control system was community driven. "With the S2 security system in place, should the unthinkable happen, we are now able to lock down the entire school at a moment's notice," said Crum. "Schools are always looking to increase security. At the same time, we are accountable for how we spend public dollars. S2's system architecture reduces the cost of installation and management of the system. Our growing community now has a manageable access control system that ensures students and staff are safe while they learn, work, and play."

Additional school districts using S2 systems include Eastern Suffolk BOCES in Long Island, NY and Eanes Independent School District in Austin, TX.