DIKE, Iowa (KCRG) - The Dike-New Hartford Community School District says is to first to complete mapping its schools to better assist first responders in a crisis.
The announcement comes three years after the state established the safety initiative.
The additional safety measures are part of the state’s Critical Incident Mapping (CIM) program, included in Governor Kim Reynolds’ 2022 School Safety Initiative.
The CIM software allows schools to create a digital map of classrooms and hallways, as well as tools like fire extinguishers, AEDs and security cameras.
That map is then shared with public safety officials and integrated into existing 911 response software, according to software developers GeoComm.
The software can also pinpoint where in a school a 911 call is made.
District Superintendent Justin Stockdale says the program will speed up response times if a crisis happens.
“Integrating real-time 911 call forwarding into our school mapping solution enhances communication, collaboration, and expedites responses when it matters most,” he said in a statement.
The technology is free for any public or private schools to implement. The Department of Education has allocated $6 million to the safety iniative
GeoComm says it is mapping over 1,400 schools in Iowa. Schools can sign up here.
Stockdale said the district also gets an email when a 911 call is made within the building and can respond internally as well.
“A while back, a student accidentally hit the emergency button on their phone. It was down by the library. Within a minute, we had someone down there touching base with that student. It was an accident. We were able to wave it off. We let the authorities know it was an accident, smooth sailing the rest of the day,” Stockdale said.
Districts across the state were able to get their schools mapped for free as a part of Governor Reynolds’ School Safety Initiative.
Stockdale said the state’s contract with GeoComm only extends through February 2026. He said he’ll work to find a way to keep the program if the state no longer pays for it because it’s a valuable resource.
“The feeling around this is a little surreal in that I’m proud of the fact that Dike New Hartford has jumped onto this. And it’s really not about being first, second, if you will, but the importance of this, I think, speaks for itself. When it comes to student safety, it has to be our number one priority,” Stockdale said.