How Springland City Schools Uses Location Data to Keep Kids Safe

Springland City Schools is a fictional district that resembles many real districts across the country. Every day, parents send their children to its schools and trust that they will be kept safe. Like many real districts, Springland uses location data to plan school boundaries, respond to emergencies, and keep its students safe.  

Check out how Springland uses powerful Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to decrease emergency response times and increase peace of mind when it matters most. 

Where is Jason? 

At 5:00pm, Tammy Gray starts to worry. School ended two hours ago and it’s almost dinner time, but Jason isn’t home yet. She already called the school and the bus company. Both confirmed that he rode the bus home and got off at his stop. But what happened between then and now, and why isn’t he home yet? 

After looking out the windows one last time, and confirming he isn’t playing in the front or backyard, she picks up the phone and dials the Springland City Schools Police Department.  

Where could he be? 

Is he hurt..In danger…In trouble? 

When her call is answered, she pushes these thoughts from her mind and calmly explains that her eight-year-old son hasn’t returned from school. She listens and carefully answers the officer’s follow-up questions: 

“No. He doesn’t have a history of coming home this late.” 

”No. No family member or friend would have picked him up at his stop.” 

“No. He didn’t have a planned play-date.” 

“No. He doesn’t have his own cell phone yet.” 

“No. I have no idea where he could be.” 

A Data-Informed Search Strategy 

The officer tells her to stay home and wait in case Jason returns. He assures her that they’ll do their best to bring him home. So, Tammy hangs up the phone and waits. 

Springland City Schools, a mid-sized urban district, is among hundreds in the country with its own police department, staffed by several full-time officers. Equipped with Frongline Education’s Location Analytics, they can swiftly visualize geographic and descriptive data to effectively handle emergencies, ensuring the safety of students like Jason Gray.  

With just a few clicks, Officer Brad Jones logs into Location Analytics and zooms in on the area surrounding Jason’s home location. See the image below: 

Despite the dense population and hundreds of homes within a mile radius of Jason’s neighborhood, Officer Jones quickly identifies four in which other Springland City Schools students live. Instead of spending hours canvassing the neighborhood, he begins his search with these four, significantly speeding up the process.  

In less than an hour, Officer Jones has found Jason at one of the houses. After getting off the bus, he followed a friend home to play a new video game. He meant to call but got too carried away and lost track of time.  

Relief washes over Tammy as she hears that Jason’s been found. Within the hour Jason is returned to her. This happy ending is a testament to the effectiveness of Springland’s use of GIS technology, ensuring that families can have peace of mind knowing their children are safe. 

Springland City Schools’ innovative approach with GIS tools is not just about quick response times; it’s about creating a secure environment where technology and community work hand in hand to keep students safe. This integration of modern technology into school safety plans demonstrates how data can be a powerful ally in ensuring the well-being of our children. 

Keep Students in Your District Safe with Location Analytics.