GSL Schools upgrading security systems with integrated technology, grant funding

By DEREK TELLIER
Editor
The Glencoe-Silver Lake School District is moving forward with a major update to its information technology and building security systems, aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and coordination across district facilities.
According to Jeff Jenson, IT director for Glencoe-Silver Lake Schools, the project represents a full refresh of aging systems that were previously separate and outdated. Cameras, card access, intercoms, visitor management, alarms, and appearance searches were all housed in standalone systems, requiring multiple logins and limiting real-time visibility.
“This is a complete refresh of our security system and now a full integration,” Jenson said. “Officials, users, and administrators will be able to manage video, access control, intercoms, visitor management, alarm points, and appearance searches all through a single login.”
The district was prompted to move forward after struggling to maintain aging servers that were nearing the end of their useful life. Jenson said some upgrades ideally should have happened two years earlier, but the district was able to keep systems operating until grant funding became available.
That opportunity came through a COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant, which the district applied for in the summer of 2025 and was ultimately awarded. Under the grant structure, the district must implement $500,000 worth of security improvements. Of that total, $375,000 is covered by the grant, while the district pays $125,000 out of pocket.
“This is a very good overall value for the school district,” Jenson said.
Day-to-day, students and staff are not expected to notice major changes once the system is in place. However, staff will see improvements in visitor management, including more flexible intercom routing and the elimination of paper sign-in logs in favor of a digital system. Administrators will gain enhanced tools for reviewing camera footage and incidents.
The upgrades also significantly strengthen building security. The new system will allow administrators to see whether exterior doors are open during the school day and will send alerts if doors are opened during unauthorized times. Proactive alerts can notify staff of specific activities in designated areas, and additional panic buttons will allow for immediate notification to law enforcement.
The system will also enable real-time background checks of visitors against a national database and allow information to be shared instantly with local law enforcement when needed.
Jenson said the entire project is expected to be completed before the start of the next school year, ensuring the upgraded systems are fully operational when students return.