2020

Protecting the health and well-being of your students, staff, and visitors is getting more and more complex with each passing school year. In 2020, we added the need for body temperature screening to the already long list of necessary safety initiatives.

Thermal imaging systems have been proven to accurately measure surface skin temperature without being physically intrusive. But, it’s critical they are installed and used correctly.

Join Eagle Eye Networks and nSide for our upcoming webinar, “Proven Thermal Screening Practices for Safer Schools” on Thursday, November 19 at 9 a.m. CT to discover:

Key strategies and techniques to ensure your school’s thermal system is set up properly.
Lessons learned from Florence City Schools in Alabama, which deployed its thermal imaging system amid the COVID-19 pandemic with your trusted partner nSide-The School Safety Platform.

Can’t make it? Register and you will receive a recording of the webinar once it is over.

Robert Nall

November 12, 2020

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security CARES Act on the desk.

October 13, 2020

Only 15% of CARES Act Funds Used

[wpcdt-countdown id=”5552″]

CARES Act Funding Use Deadline

Claim your FREE Temperature Scanning Cameras and Mobile Wifi Systems for your K-12 Schools in Alabama!

Here are the facts…

Through various funding mechanisms provided by the State, districts in Alabama have an extraordinary opportunity to enhance their schools in the areas of planning, preparedness, and safety.

There is $170 million for schools in Alabama to use to help with the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Your trusted partner at nSide provides many of the things in which this funding can be used, such as:
1. nSide|Live – build a surveillance system at your school that can be shared to first responders.
2. nSide|Live + ETS – remotely take temperatures, detect objects (such as weapons), and move your existing cameras to the cloud to be shared with first responders.
3. nSide|Fleet + WiFi – equip your buses with WiFi and enhance tracking capabilities.

This is what it says…

Source: https://www.alsde.edu/COVID19%20Updates/ALSDE-CARES-FAQ-2020.pdf

List of funding for schools: Funding for schools.

What are the K-12 funding opportunities and what did/will Alabama receive from the CARES Act?

The funding opportunities that impact K-12 education in Alabama are the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and the Education Stabilization Relief Fund. Decisions on the use of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Funds will come from the Governor’ administration. The ALSDE administers the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund of which Alabama is projected to receive approximately $217 million. The statute requires that this funding be delivered on a formula basis to LEAs based on their proportionate share of the state’s total Title I funding allocation.

This is what you can do…

How may LEAs spend their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds?

Below are a few of the ways LEAs may spend their funds:

Coordination of LEA preparedness and response efforts to improve coordinated responses with other agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
Activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth,
Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve LEA preparedness and response efforts
Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including how to provide meals, technology for online learning, guidance on IDEA requirements, and ensuring other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all applicable requirements.
Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students served by the LEA that aids in regular and substantive educational interactions between students and their classroom teachers, including assistance technology or adaptive equipment.

This is what it can turn into…

nSide|Fleet + WiFi adds value beyond the purpose of mobile hotspots for remote learning. It adds BusSOS™ technology to be used in all situations, allows for fleet tracking and maintenance management, and the ability to add digital, cloud-based cameras. If nSide|Fleet + WiFi is already implemented in your district, these upgrades can happen at a reduced cost.

nSide|Live + ETS provides opportunities to fully integrate existing camera systems with the nSide School Safety Platform. The ETS solutions use the same EagleEyeNetworks products that are used to add cameras to the cloud for sharing through the nSide Platform. This solution fits directly with one of the Alabama SAFE Council Report recommendations for physical security: “Surveillance Systems Linked to Law Enforcement”.

The State of Alabama has provided emergency funding through the Coronavirus Relief Fund for acquiring these solutions, but ONLY FIFTEEN PERCENT of the funds allotted for Education Health and Wellness and Educational Remote Learning Devices have been expended throughout the State. The deadline for using this funding opportunity is December 15, 2020.

All of these current or future upgrades are possible and become easy fixes if a school uses their CARES Act funding. Don’t deprive your district of this opportunity!

Robert Nall

October 13, 2020

Group of children with face mask back at school after covid-19 quarantine and lockdown.

October 2, 2020

nSide Newsletter 2020-Q3

In the 3rd quarter of this year, many schools across the country started back to instruction one way or another. We have been with you every step of the way and will continue to do so. With COVID-19 and the unprecedented nature of schooling this year, we have presented several solutions to help mitigate this transition, keeping the future in mind beyond the pandemic. These tools keep you in one platform, keeping you organized under one umbrella without having to worry about remembering credentials to other applications. These tools also have applicability beyond COVID-19, helping to keep your schools safe, organized, and functioning at its best. Lastly, the State of Alabama has provided emergency funding through the Coronavirus Relief Fund for acquiring these solutions, but ONLY FIFTEEN PERCENT of the funds allotted for Education Health and Wellness and Educational Remote Learning Devices have been expended throughout the State. The deadline for using this funding opportunity is December 15, 2020.

Below is a highlight of what we developed over the summer.

nSide|Fleet + WiFi

We offer a mobile WiFi solution that gives your students the best opportunity for distance learning. The mobile Wifi solution can be installed on school buses and our team can provide a plan for deployment throughout your community. Our tech solutions ensure a safe learning environment and we provide the best-in-class solutions all together in one platform. As an added bonus, we have implemented our BusSOS™ solution, which is an emergency panic button that connects directly to E-911 call centers to provide a location of the emergency.

nSide|Live + ETS

Our new nSide|Live + ETS product uses cameras, installed with thermographic imaging, to scan the temperatures of up to 1000 people in an hour. As multiple students are scanned, while maintaining social distance, our system will automatically detect temperatures above 100°F with use of infrared cameras and AI systems. The system locates and scans each person’s eye ducts, providing the core and most accurate body temperature possible. Rather than expose door monitors to face-to-face screening, this solution will immediately send alerts of any raised temperature to the administrators.

Beyond COVID-19

nSide|Fleet + WIFI adds value beyond the purpose of mobile hotspots for remote learning. It adds BusSOS™ technology to be used in all situations, allows for fleet tracking and maintenance management, and the ability to add digital, cloud-based cameras. If nSide|Fleet + WIFI is already implemented in your district, these upgrades can happen at a reduced cost.
nSide|Live + ETS provides opportunities to fully integrate existing camera systems with the nSide School Safety Platform. The ETS solutions use the same EagleEyeNetworks products that are used to add cameras to the cloud for sharing through the nSide Platform. This solution fits directly with one of the Alabama SAFE Council Report recommendations for physical security: “Surveillance Systems Linked to Law Enforcement”.

All of these current or future upgrades are possible and become easy fixes if a school uses their CARES Act funding. Don’t deprive your district of this opportunity!

Districts and School That Have Partnered with nSide in Q3-2020

Solution	Parnership
nSide\|Edge	Fort Payne City Schools
nSide\|Edge	Huntsville ACSTE
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Macon County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Coffee County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Vestavia Hills City Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Winston County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Henry County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Bullock County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Fairfield City Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Covington County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Dallas County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Chilton County Schools
nSide\|Fleet+WiFi	Russellville City Schools
nSide\|Live	Tuskegee Institute Middle School
nSide\|Live	Fort Payne City Schools
nSide\|Live	Autauga County Schools
nSide\|Live	University of Montevallo – Palmer Hall
nSide\|Live+ETS	Florence City Schools ETS
nSide\|Live	Huntsville ASCTE; Cameras
nSide\|Live	Franklin County Schools
nSide\|Live	University of Montevallo
nSide\|Live	Sylacauga City Schools
nSide\|Live	Thomasville City Schools

Robert Nall

October 2, 2020

August 11, 2020

nSide Releases Elevated Temperature Screening for Schools

nSide|Live + ETS

As schools begin to reopen, temperature checks are becoming a critical demand in the welcoming of students to in-person, classroom curriculum. Many schools are seeking the best routes to mitigate risks and engage in biological hazards planning. In an attempt to follow these plans and curb the spread of COVID-19, these temperature detecting technologies will provide an opportunity to care for students that are unable or unwilling to continue distance learning.

But the question being raised is: How can schools safely scan the temperature of each student that walks in the door? In an effort to save your school’s time, and maintain the safest measure of social distancing possible, our team is partnering with a new Eagle Eye solution.

We are committed to helping schools ensure the health of all students, so after extensive research we are equipping a new, nSide|Live + ETS (Elevated Temperature Screening) product to support efforts necessary to tend to this pandemic. Typical protocol for scanning temperatures will include checkpoints prior to students stepping on buses, as well as lobby check points for students approaching the main entrance. In doing so, schools have the ability to send students to a designated isolation area, with a school nurse, until the student may be dismissed without threat of potential spread.

Our solution uses cameras, installed with thermographic imaging, to scan the temperatures of up to 45 students at once. As multiple students are scanned, while maintaining social distance, our system will automatically detect temperatures above 100°F with use of infrared cameras and AI systems. nSide|Live + ETS locates and scans each person’s eye ducts, providing the core and most accurate body temperature possible. Rather than expose door monitors to face-to-face screening, this solution will immediately send alerts of any raised temperature to the administrators. By locating people with symptoms of COVD-19 before they enter the school, everyone stays safe and healthy – 100% passive and in real-time!

When students wear glasses, the detection will jump to the forehead to read temperatures, and this screening can take place while a steady stream of students and faculty step through the door. Our team at nSide is here to supply schools with the smartest and safest solutions, and we confidently believe that this technology will further protect all students, teachers, administrators, and staff. As communities begin tailoring their approach to COVID-19, we hope to be of help and reassurance that our schools can operate in the safest manner possible.

If you have any questions regarding this new solution or are in need of any guidance resources for schools reopening, please contact our team by emailing help@nside.io or by phone at +1 (800) 604-1822.

Sarah Ann McCain

August 11, 2020

July 8, 2020

nSide|Fleet + WiFi

Florence, AL – July 8, 2020 – nSide|Fleet + WiFi is intentionally designed for schools looking to prepare off campus, at-home Internet access for students facing challenges due to COVID-19.

In support of school systems seeking further assistance throughout the pandemic, Governor Kay Ivey is awarding one time funds to the Alabama State Department of Education. As a result, schools have an opportunity to utilize $10 million of this allocation to equip all school buses with WiFi capabilities that will increase internet activity and help bridge the digital divide.

nSide is responding to these increased demands for Internet connectivity solutions by enhancing its original nSide|Fleet product. The new nSide Fleet + WiFi feature will offer Internet access and data reporting capabilities to students studying from home, as a result of COVID-19 school closures. Along with connectivity, the new product will also include a BusSOS feature to enable a panic button for drivers to use under emergency circumstances.

“Something that we emphasize a lot for our clients, is our partnership. We have a working relationship with these schools,” says Dr. Steve McKinney, CEO and Founder of nSide. “We talk about nSide as a platform, and the intent is to provide a singular, consolidated approach to school safety. Introducing nSide|Fleet + Wifi is our latest solution to meet the needs of our schools. I believe that adapting to student learning environments and filling in the gaps is crucial, and I also believe that we have a responsibility to make sure that our platform adapts over time to accommodate those specific needs.”

After noting the swift acceleration of school closures across the country, nSide began its nSide|Fleet + WiFi offerings to include a variety of features to aid school districts shifting to distance learning at-home. nSide offers unique data plans and mapping opportunities to track buses as well as provide Internet connectivity, with plans starting at 3 years and extending to 7 years. More information on nSide’s solution to school bus wifi can be found at https://nside.io/nside-wifi/

Sarah Ann McCain

July 8, 2020

July 1, 2020

nSide Newsletter 2020-Q2

Every quarter, we send out the best of what we’ve done here at nSide. This recap covers even more ground than usual, as we’ve found ourselves pushing the limits to what we can achieve as a team. After extensive testing, our latest technologies have been presented to take your school’s safety measures to the next level. Our platform continues to evolve amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, so we have offered up what we know to be the smartest and most efficient solutions. In the wake of this outbreak, our team has been assessing and providing every resource possible to support your needs. We hope that by unifying these tools into our platform, you might be able to rest in the assurance that nSide is your one-stop solution for any school safety concern.

Our team is always here to assist you in emergency situations, and we recognize that this quarter is unique to experiences that we’ve had in recent years. However, there is much to celebrate in your school’s immediate response and care for students! We will continue to find innovative ways to build up this community and provide you with relevant, accurate information to come. As always, growth is great! Below you can find an assortment of our latest news and most engaged social media posts from March leading up to June. If you have any questions about these updates, please don’t hesitate to contact us at help@nside.io. Thanks for spending this quarter with us!

New Technologies

Surveillance – We are proud to announce that we are now partnered with Verkada to bring your school the latest in video surveillance technology and emergency planning. Every K-12 public school in Alabama has access to and utilizes nSide – The School Safety Platform. Now, all of your video surveillance cameras can be viewed in one platform for sharing with other school officials, law enforcement, E-911 and emergency responders! These video surveillance cameras can also integrate with your existing maps and floor plans. We can perform an assessment of your school’s camera needs and let you personally experience the additional layer of protection this system provides for faculty, staff, and students.

Mobile WiFi – In addition to our new video surveillance technology, we are also offering a Mobile Wifi Solution! We hope to provide your students with the best opportunity for distance learning, as we recognize that every school district across the state can benefit from easily accessible hotspots. This new solution can be installed on school buses or at any specific location that your administrators deem necessary. Our goal is to save you time by providing speedy technologies and connectivity that makes e-learning a breeze, all while unifying systems together in one platform. As always, we at nSide believe that ensuring a safe learning environment is top priority to guarantee the health and success of all students, and we are here to help.

Blog Posts

Top Reminders

As you prep for the new school year, you might notice the sections in the EOP page are now yellow. These are reset on July 1, 2020. The yellow shading on the EOP and the Notice button indicates it is time for your annual EOP review. If the Notice button also has a specific entry, you will need to address that issue along with the review. The green shading on the EOP means that it is up to date for the current school year. As always, let us know if we can help!

Top Tweets

nSide Partners with Macon County Sheriff’s Office

MACON, AL – March 30, 2020 – After over a decade of providing the safety platform for schools across the southeast, nSide Inc. has branched out to new beginnings. Sheriff Andre’ Brunson has partnered with the nSide team to turn Macon County into a virtual setting for surveillance throughout office and jail perimeters.

Upon taking office as sheriff of Macon County in 2015, Sheriff Brunson had served as a former deputy for 23 years and as School Resource Officer for the local district. With an extensive background of maintaining public safety, he understands the implications of not being properly prepared. His team began this project with nSide in hopes to speed police response time, through the use of remote access and real-time coverage for any potential emergency event.

When invited to share his experience, Brunson recalls his plan to take initiative with nSide for years. He notes that throughout his time serving as an SRO, he often checked the nSide platform when incidents arose. He states, “I had this dream of when I became sheriff that I could have this system in my office to protect the school system. You know, I could watch the cameras from here just in case we had a school shooter or something going on inside the school. I would have an advantage by seeing it here in my office.”

The department received an installation of 49 new surveillance cameras over the course of four days. The department has also contracted nSide to place smart TV’s, in-office and in dispatch, for easy camera viewing beyond typical capabilities on web and mobile devices.

When asked what led him to this partnership Brunson remarks, “One of the things that I pride myself on is I love dealing with the kids. I love dealing with the school system, and that’s what got me into nSide.”

nSide looks forward to continuing this relationship with the Macon County police department and supplying local law enforcement with technologies to keep schools safe. For more information on this project, contact Dr. McKinney at help@nside.io or at 1-800- 604-1822.

Sarah Ann McCain

April 24, 2020

April 2, 2020

nSide Newsletter 2020-Q1

Hi, everyone!

We recently began this push to develop newsletters that keep you current with our efforts here at nSide. At the start of 2020, our expectations for what was to come were nothing compared to the surprising quarter ahead. The outbreak of COVID-19 has swiftly changed the course of many plans, but we are grateful to be here for our community as we learn how best to care for our schools throughout this event. Our team has compiled a quick rundown of top blogs, media mentions, current events, and pandemic resources for you. We hope that featuring this media will better express our mission to keep schools safe, as well as develop a culture that acknowledges each challenging moment and celebration along the way.

If you have any questions or desire further information about these resources, our team is here to help. We not only want to supply you with the tools to keep classrooms safe; we want to empower you to create habits, execute plans, and continue training with the strategies you have in-place. If you have any concerns in regard to these areas, we encourage you to contact our live chat support team at help@nside.io.

We hope this quarter has served you well, and we eagerly await the coming months as we progress in our efforts to share this mission with you!

Below you’ll find attached news and highlights, from January leading up to March.

COVID-19 Resources

As public health news continues to circulate, we will continue assembling information, guidelines, processes, and tools to help our schools during this difficult time.

Season 2, Episode 2: Biological Hazards Planning and Mental Health Secondary Trauma of Social Distancing

In this episode we introduce new processes within nSide to help schools with Biological Hazards Planning and interview Anna Watts, a School Safety Specialist and Certified Youth Mental Health Trainer.

School Pandemic Resources

This page refers to any concerns about school closures, current rate of infection, and general FAQs. Our pandemic resources page actively tracks news sources to stay relevant on The Alabama Department of Health and State news. (Alabama notices for COIVD-19)

Pandemic Planning Assessment

Our team has created an assessment to provide guidance on the Pandemic Planning section of your emergency operation plan.

Public Health Planning folders in the nSide Platform (under Documents)

We created a Pandemic Planning folder for you within the nSide Platform! We did this to help your school create a structured plan, specifically related to biological hazards and the outbreak of COVID-19

Blog Posts

Events

nSide gives back in honor of Forest Hills Elementary receiving the Attorney General’s 2019 Safe School Award! We are so proud of Florence City Schools and the initiatives taking place within this community.

Top Tweets

Pandemic Planning for Your Community

In the wake of this outbreak, many of us have begun asking questions about our role in COVID-19 awareness and prevention. As a school safety company, the nSide team is always here to help communities amid crisis situations. We understand that this is a concerning and stressful time for many, so we’ve put together a review of CDC recommendations that is applicable to both school systems and community members alike.

As of today (March 24, 2020 at 3:00 pm), there are 44,183 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, and 196 confirmed cases in the state of Alabama. Click here to see the coordinating list of confirmed cases, per county, in Alabama.

List of symptoms and emergency warning signs provided by the CDC:

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses).

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs include*:

Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face

Household Planning

Along with awareness of symptoms, the CDC recommends creating a household plan. In the event that you or someone you live with falls ill, it’s best to be prepared in advance. Designate a sick room or space, where you can safely quarantine with low risk of physical contact with others. It’s suggested that two weeks worth of over the counter medications and food are stocked, along with a process for having food delivered if possible. Guidelines also advise arranging any needs for communication among friends and family, as well as organizing childcare plans if needed. In addition to preparing your surroundings, it is necessary to take proper care of emotional health and communicate with others if you begin to feel a decline take place. Isolation due to quarantine can lead to anxious or depressive moods, so establishing emotional support is equally as important as assembling your household plan.These strategies are simple in nature but far-reaching in any effort to care for your home.

In addition to this, the CDC recommends we actively engage in social distancing. Many of us are in current practice of this and abstain from groups of people or large gatherings of any sort. But if you’re wondering how much social distancing does for you and those around you, their guidance would encourage you to consider the rapid pace at which coronavirus has spread. It is never our desire to evoke fear or panic for anyone, however we do recognize that grasping the communicable nature of this illness is a crucial element to pandemic planning. Maintaining this practice and limiting physical contact is one of the most significant things you can do to support any plan. As unfortunate as it feels at times, social distancing is in fact the best way to care for your friends and loved ones right now.

Pandemic Planning for Schools

The CDC also stresses that pandemic planning be assessed as seriously as the day-to-day management of warning signs. Remaining informed about the local coronavirus situation is one of the most critical steps that your schools can take to properly recover from this pandemic. With oncoming news and school closures extending each day, maintaining awareness and a consistent stream of communication with your team is a foundational piece of your school’s plan of action.

Likewise, it’s essential that your faculty continues to communicate with households as often as they receive new information. Once ensured that information is factual and from a reliable source, it needs to be distributed as quickly and sensitively as possible among guardians. In crafting this circle of communication among school communities, you have the opportunity to effectively carry out a culture for school safety within your district.

Finally, as you aim to respond and recover from this event, the students and children in your home should remain the central concern. Adjusting to a new routine and new learning experience can be difficult for many children to take on. As any educator knows, a large portion of caring for students goes beyond their education. Partnering with public health officials to maintain health and meal services for students, while publicly announcing the implementation of these projects, will bolster the support system for many students at home.

Our team is always here to assist you in emergency situations, and we recognize that this pandemic is unique to any experience we’ve had in recent years. Although we can’t be sure of what’s to come, our priority for maintaining your school’s safety is unwavering. We will continue seeking innovative ways to build up this community and provide you with relevant, accurate information to come. As always, if we can be of further assistance to you please feel free to reach out at help@nside.io. If there is anything else we can do to help you cope with these transitions, please do not hesitate to connect with our team.

Links to Relevant Resources

Last week, we released links to our S2:E1 Podcast, School Pandemic Resources Page, Pandemic Planning Assessment, and Public Health Planning folders within the nSide platform. These resources are available with the intent to guide your next-steps and encourage you along the way. We ask that you contact us at resources@nside.io for any questions or additional materials you might find helpful!

Sarah Ann McCain

March 24, 2020

March 22, 2020

Communication and Public Outreach

Any public health emergency presents significant risk communication challenges, and an influenza pandemic will be no different. Clear, accurate and timely communication is key to keeping the general public informed about the influenza pandemic. Listed below a few federal resources that can help.

Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC)

The right message at the right time from the right person can save lives. CDC’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) draws from lessons learned during past public health emergencies and research in the fields of public health, psychology, and emergency risk communication. CDC’s CERC program provides training, tools, and resources to help health communicators, emergency responders, and leaders of organizations communicate effectively during emergencies. Please email cercrequest@cdc.gov with any questions or requests for training or materials.

Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA)

COCA prepares clinicians to respond to emerging health threats and public health emergencies by communicating relevant, timely information related to disease outbreaks, disasters, terrorism events, and other health alerts.
Learn more about COCA

Flu Social Media

Newsletter

SOURCE: “Communication and Public Outreach.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Nov. 2016, www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/planning-preparedness/communication-public-outreach.html

Cameron Martin

March 22, 2020

Webinar: Successful Strategies for Thermal Screening on Campus