Utah Schools Seek Affordable Ways to Meet New Safety Standards
Utah’s House Bill 84, also known as Alyssa’s Law, sets higher expectations for how schools protect students and staff. Passed in May 2024, the law requires every school to implement stronger security measures like improved video surveillance, secure entry procedures, and a reliable panic alert system that meets performance standards set by the Utah State Board of Education by July 1, 2025, including wearable options for staff safety.
These upgrades are essential, but funding them can be a challenge. The state estimates that full compliance could cost schools about 500 million dollars statewide, with only part of that covered in the current budget. Many districts are now looking for practical ways to meet these new requirements without straining their resources.
BadgeR+: The Smarter, Budget-Friendly Panic Button Solution
When state laws require wearable panic buttons, many schools face the challenge of staying compliant without breaking their budgets. That’s where BadgeR+ stands apart. It delivers advanced emergency communication features while saving you money—making it the ideal choice for schools looking to do more with less.
No New Infrastructure Needed
BadgeR+ works with your school’s existing Wi-Fi or BLE beacons—so there’s no need to buy expensive hardware or overhaul your infrastructure. It’s a smarter, more affordable way to meet state mandates.
Real-Time Audio & Location Sharing
In a crisis, sending an alert isn’t enough. BadgeR+ streams live audio and shares precise location details to keep responders informed as the situation unfolds, ensuring faster and more effective responses.
Multi-Use Activation Options
With three ways to activate and assignable incident types (like medical emergencies, fights, or active threats), BadgeR+ becomes more than just a way to summon all emergency response teams to campus in a blanket response. It’s a versatile tool for effectively addressing various on-campus emergencies.
Built-In Haptic Feedback
Staff receive a discreet vibration confirming that their alert was successfully sent, offering peace of mind in high-stress situations.
Low Maintenance, Long Battery Life
BadgeR+ devices automatically check in, notifying staff of any connection issues and when they require charging. With automatic updates and a battery life of up to six months, which can be recharged via USB-C, ongoing maintenance is simple.
Slim, Lightweight, and Wearable All Day
BadgeR+ is designed for comfort and convenience, fitting easily on a lanyard or badge clip—either vertically or horizontally—allowing staff to wear it without disrupting their day.
Included Public Safety Hub for Easy Management
Every BadgeR+ deployment comes with access to the Public Safety Hub. This powerful admin platform allows school leaders to manage devices, adjust settings, monitor real-time activity, and access detailed reports all in one place.
When compliance is required, and budgets are tight, BadgeR+ delivers. It’s the full-featured, cost-effective solution built for the realities schools face today.
Scalable Solutions to Cover More Ground
While BadgeR+ assists schools in meeting the requirement for a wearable panic button, many districts recognize the need for additional safety measures. As a result, they choose to combine it with other tools from 911Cellular to create a comprehensive safety system. This system enables anyone within the facility to alert others in case of an emergency, all while staying within budget and implementing the features at their own pace.
Computer Panic Button
Our Computer Panic Button transforms any staff desktop or laptop into a silent panic button without requiring additional hardware. A quick hotkey or discreet click requests help, while screens can also display critical messages from administrators through screen takeovers.
Wall-Mounted Panic Button
These devices are easy to install in classrooms, offices, or high-traffic areas. Wireless and battery-powered, our Wall-Mounted Panic Buttons give anyone nearby an immediate way to call for help, adding another layer of protection for shared spaces.
All of our solutions work together and use your existing Wi-Fi network, making it easy to scale up or add more devices as funding allows, without the stress of major infrastructure updates or IT headaches.
Plan Ahead with Confidence
Utah schools shouldn’t have to choose between strong security and staying on budget. By starting with BadgeR+ to meet the wearable panic button requirement, districts can protect students and staff now and expand coverage over time as needed, knowing that more scalable solutions are available.
Want to see how 911Cellular can help schools meet Utah’s new standards? Schedule a demo with our team today to start building a plan that makes every dollar and every second count.
