The Marion School District will be enhancing student and staff safety during the 2025-26 school year through a new partnership with Centegix, bringing the latest innovations in school safety technology to the district.
Centegix is known as an industry leader in K-12 safety solutions, serving more than 11,500 locations across the country. The Centegix crisis alert platform minimizes identification, notification, and response time in emergencies, leveraging dynamic digital mapping, real-time locating capabilities, and an easy-to-use wearable panic button.
“When it comes to the safety of our students and staff, we are constantly evaluating our systems and procedures, researching new technology and new approaches for school safety, and looking for more ways to keep our schools safe,” said Dr. Glen Fenter, Marion superintendent. “With Centegix, we believe we have found what will be another strong tool to help keep our schools safe. We intend to continue investing heavily in that pursuit.”
Over the past several years, the Marion School District has invested more than $1 million in its school safety program and infrastructure. This includes everything from the installation of modern access controls at each campus entry point, installation nearly 500 camera in classrooms and other common areas, new cybersecurity programs, an expanded team of safety officers, and more. The Centegix crisis alert platform will be the latest upgrade.
With the new system, teachers, and staff will be able to request help with the push of a button on a wearable badge. The system provides first responders with precise location information, enabling them to respond faster in any situation. The Centegix solution is also unique for its ability to deliver alert location accuracy, total campus coverage, and immediate audio and visual notification.
Teachers and administrators can use the badge for everything from requesting help for things like medical emergencies or student altercations, to initiating campus-wide lockdowns, including those for credible school-wide safety threats. The system provides coverage both inside and outside the building, including parking lots and athletic fields.
“This gives us an intentional ability to respond to emergencies at our schools," said Richard Atwill, the district’s assistant superintendent for maintenance and operations. “We can know where our staff need help immediately. Ensuring our students have an environment where they can come to school, feel safe, and feel nurtured is the cornerstone for everything we do as a school district, and this new system will be another tool to help us do that.”
The Marion School District is an innovative and growing district that ensures an equitable, engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. With more than 150 years of experience serving families in Crittenden County, the district offers a high school, a junior high, a seventh grade academy, and three award-winning magnet schools. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3.org/ or call 870-739-5100.