By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers have approved more than $6.48 million in state-funded contracts aimed at strengthening school safety and emergency preparedness across all public K-12 campuses, marking a major step forward in implementing the Alabama School Security Act of 2024.
The Joint Legislative Contract Review Committee approved two key contracts this week: one for creating detailed digital maps of every public school in the state and another for a centralized school safety software platform that will integrate emergency plans, reporting tools, and law enforcement coordination.
Michelle Cone, an attorney representing the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), presented the mapping contract, which authorizes a $4.19 million agreement with Geo-Comm Inc. to develop GIS-based digital maps of all public school campuses. The project is fully funded by state dollars and is a core requirement of the 2024 school security law.
Lawmakers questioned who would control and store the sensitive data. Cone emphasized that while Geo-Comm will host the system, the State of Alabama will retain full ownership of all maps and data and may transfer them to another platform if needed.
“The state will be the owner of all maps provided pursuant to this agreement and will have the unconditional right to use and distribute them,” Cone told the committee.
The second contract, approved without objection, is a $2.29 million agreement with SchoolDogs Solutions Inc., which will provide a statewide, web-based school safety platform at no cost to local school systems.
According to Tina Hammonds, director of governmental affairs, the platform will serve as a centralized hub for safety operations, housing emergency operation plans, allowing staff to report safety concerns in real time, and integrating with both the new mapping system and law enforcement agencies.
“The state will cover the cost of the platform so that every public school can use it,” Hammonds said.
The platform will also include future upgrades at no additional cost, ensuring schools automatically receive new features.
The Alabama School Security Act of 2024 was passed amid growing concerns over school shootings nationwide and gaps in emergency response coordination. Lawmakers said the combined mapping and software systems will provide first responders with accurate campus layouts and real-time safety information during emergencies.
“These two pieces are designed to work together,” Hammonds said.