FENTON, Michigan – Fenton Area Public Schools have new technology.

This year they implemented ZeroEyes and Safer Schools Together.

With the help of grants, they can use the programs to address safety concerns in schools.

Both can contain a threat.

ZeroEyes is installed on the cameras inside the buildings.

Safer Schools Together examines social media and produces a worrying report on online behaviour.

“We want to be proactive in anticipating anything, whether it’s a threat or something that could harm a student or staff member,” says Barry Tiemann, the district’s director of communications and innovation.

He tells us that ZeroEyes has been installed on all cameras.

It is an artificial intelligence software and it detects visible weapons.

“As soon as it detects something, an alert is sent to headquarters, which is manned 24/7 by security personnel. Whether active or former police or military personnel, they review the image very quickly to see if it’s a real threat and then respond via SMS and email to whoever we want, including our security officers at the schools,” Tiemann says.

Jordan Grace is one of the district’s school security officers. He says knowing within seconds that there is a threat at school is crucial.

“We actually tested it over the summer. Within about 30 seconds, we got an image of the person carrying a firearm, so we know what they look like, what they’re carrying and what firearm they actually own,” he says. “Everyone in this country has concerns about safety in schools and as a community and as a school district, we want to do everything we can to reassure everyone and make them feel safe,” Grace says.

Another tool the district is using this year is called “Safer Schools Together.”

It monitors students’ public social media pages.

“It can give us reports. What we’ve learned from it is the social, emotional side of things. We have the students who may be exhibiting self-harm or just feeling a sense of loneliness and insecurity, and we’ve been able to respond to that side of this type of technology as well,” Tiemann says.

The report will be sent to the school resource officers and to Tiemann.

“This gives us information that we probably wouldn’t otherwise know, and we can leverage the administrative capabilities of school counselors and provide them with exactly the support and help they need,” Grace says.

The district signed contracts with a term of three to five years and used state funding.