Lehighton Area School District inked a 15-month subscription last week with Raptor Technologies for an emergency management system, at a cost of $9,310.

The system, which will be paid for through the 2025-26 district technology budget, includes $3,025 in onetime costs and $6,285 in recurring costs for three site licenses.

John Orsulak, Lehighton’s director of safety and security, presented details of the system to the school board in March, describing it as a tool to help schools “prepare, respond to, and recover from an emergency.”

“The system can handle incidents ranging from routine to worst-case scenarios, including active shooter situations,” he said.

The platform, he added, enables schools to manage drills, notify first responders, account for individuals and reunite students with their families.

The software consists of four main components: drill management, alert notifications, accountability and reunification. Orsulak said the system not only documents state-mandated drills but also allows for customization to meet specific school needs.

“It’s important how you conduct those drills, but it’s also what you learn from those drills,” Orsulak said. “Using the software, you can analyze performance, understand gaps and weaknesses, and gain critical insight.”

One key feature of the system is a silent panic notification that instantly alerts 911 and law enforcement.

“A staff member can just hit that alert button, and it notifies the 911 center and all police immediately,” Orsulak said.

During emergencies, staff can receive continuous updates, including text communications when silence is required during lockdowns.

“The software integrates with our student management system, PowerSchool, so all the information from those students will be right there at the hands of staff members,” Orsulak said.

The system verifies guardian identities and checks for custody restrictions and sex offender records. Orsulak said the reunification feature reduces the trauma associated with school emergencies.

“The recovery starts when the crisis begins, and having a low-management reunification process reduces the trauma of a school emergency,” he said.

The quote approved by the board includes a $2,500 charge for Emergency Management Basic Training and a $525 implementation fee for three site licenses. The Raptor Connect component was included at no cost.

The annual access fee for Raptor Emergency Management is $2,095 per building, totaling $6,285 for three buildings.

The district received 15 months of service for the price of 12 under a promotional rate through the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit.

According to the company, in the last year alone, school districts using the Raptor system responded to more than 70,000 incidents, conducted nearly 41,000 drills, and issued alerts for over 17,000 emergencies.