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Why Fleet Safety Matters

Why Fleet Safety Matters

If you’ve ever been in a hurry, you know this feeling: getting trapped behind a big, yellow school bus, making multiple stops and driving slowly. We have all been there, frustrated with the slow speed, but there’s a reason why those buses have to be so very careful: they’re filled with precious cargo. Parents and guardians across the country entrust their children each day to the school bus systems, drivers, and routes. Although strides have been taken to make the school vehicles as safe as possible, there are still several areas of concern when it comes to this aspect of the education system, including traffic accidents, other drivers on the road, and strangers having access to the passengers or routes as they make their stops. So what’s an educator to do? How do you protect these precious passengers, and give your school staff and families confidence that the buses are as safe as possible? In this blog, we will explore how nSide’s innovative fleet systems work, and how they give everyone involved an extra layer of communication.

Who rides the school bus?

If you’re wondering who these routes actually serve, you may be surprised at the sheer numbers of students who use school transportation. Recent statistics from School Transportation News indicate that in the 2018-2019 school year, there were 1,365 crashes that involved school buses. This accounts for only a small fraction of the number of minors who rode a school bus during the same timeframe, which the American School Bus Council estimates at approximately 26 million students. In 2016, the statistics showed that approximately 20 million children who were younger than 9th grade rode the bus, and that the bus riders typically live more than two miles away from the school they’re attending. In addition to providing transportation for any child who may need it, it’s important to note that the bus provides opportunity for those who wouldn’t have access to a private, working vehicle. The same research showed that 20% of the children riding the bus in 2016 were from homes who’s income level fell below the poverty line. Even when low-income families own a personal vehicle, it doesn’t mean it’s easily accessible; obstacles like the cost of gas, a parent available to drive it, and a car that is good condition all can hinder the ability to get a child to school without help. On average, a school bus travels 12,000 miles per year, and replaces the travel of approximately 36 regular vehicles.

What has been done so far about safety on school buses?

Thankfully, these school vehicles are one of the most regulated transportation methods. Since their inception in 1914, when they were a very unreliable and dangerous carriage that provided almost no protection to its riders, the recognizable school bus has come quite a long way. One of the first changes made to provide a higher level of safety was innovated by Frank Cyr in the early 30’s, who was himself an educator, and it was to make all school buses the same color. In 1974, school fleets had all adopted the vibrant yellow color throughout the country, which made them more visible during early mornings and early evenings, when they were most heavily used. Since the mid 60’s, the safety features of the standard school bus have been regulated by the federal government, in order to comply with newer technologies and standards. 

The design of the actual vehicle is part of what makes modern buses more safe than a  regular passenger car. A child is actually seventy times more likely to get in an accident while riding as a passenger, than to get in an accident on the way to school on a bus. They feature things like flashing red lights, plenty of mirrors, and sturdy construction to best protect the children inside. Although the larger ones do not have required seatbelts, this is because they are constructed using a system called compartmentalization. Compartmentalization makes seats that can absorb energy in a crash, and help protect the riders in the event of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also monitors the minimum safety standards for a school bus, ensuring that there is accountability for bus manufacturers.

School Bus Accidents and Incidents

No one likes to look back and see instances where accidents or mishaps occurred involving school buses, passengers, or drivers, but they can help shape the safety standards for the future. There are several instances in the last ten years, where children were involved in these types of situations. 

In 2013, a five year old boy was taken hostage during a crisis in Midland City, Alabama. The perpetrator, Jimmy Lee Dykes, managed to board a school bus, where he shot and killed the driver and took Ethan Gillman (age five) hostage. Another student who was present on the bus called 911 when Dykes boarded the vehicle, and first responders were able to apprehend Dykes later on. He had proceeded to leave the bus with the child, barricaded himself in a self-made bunker, and was shot by the authorities. The little boy was thankfully rescued and lived through the harrowing event. During such an instance as this, nSide’s technology would allow bus drivers to receive emergency help more rapidly, and enhance their communication abilities. When time is of the essence (such as in a kidnapping), the goals are to prevent unauthorized access to the children, AND get help to the bus in a hurry, and nSide helps schools do both. 

Let’s take a look at a few more instances when things relating specifically to riding the bus went horribly wrong:

  • August 2018: Terry Bryant, age 11, was struck by a car in Florida and killed. He was waiting for a break in traffic to walk up the street.
  • September 2018, Destiny Chambers, age 8, was struck and killed by a vehicle, who committed a hit-and-run. She was crossing the street towards the bus, which was stopped.
  • October 2018: Jasmine Villareal, age 12, died as a result of her school bus rolling into a ditch and catching fire. 
  • March 2019: Rhindi Isaacs, deceased as a result of her school bus being struck by an SUV and catching fire.

These are grievous and horrible accidents that primarily involved drivers who failed to stop at the stop sign or for the flashing lights. Each year, the National School Bus Loading and Unloading Survey updates all the fatalities and accidents that occur during the entering and exiting at bus stops. Children who were under nine years of age account for the largest number of fatalities since the 70’s, and the current average shows that around 6 children die every year from bus-related accidents. Among the almost 1500 reported crashes researched by School Transportation News, approximately 16.5 percent were found to be the fault of the bus driver, school district, or private bus company. This is where many of the safety features of nSide’s amazing fleet communication system come into play.

How nSide’s Fleet System Works

We pride ourselves on combining the best of modern technology with accessibility for schools and their educators. One of our products is called nSide|Fleet, and it provides an extra layer of safety for school bus drivers, their passengers, and the staff that oversees them. As we mentioned above, with just over sixteen percent of accidents correlating to school or bus companies directly, it’s crucial that schools reduce their liability and make their modes of transportation as safe as possible. nSide|Fleet does just that; giving schools the ability to monitor their entire group of school buses in just a few clicks of a mouse. Not only can they access this digitally, it can be securely accessed no matter where you are. For administrators and principals, this means you can check in on any situation while on the go. Here are some of the benefits of the service:

  • View accurate reports on speeding vehicles, so you can monitor the safe driving habits of the drivers you hire.
  • Geofencing is a way to use location in tandem with information. With geofencing, you can view when a driver leaves a route, and determine a possible reason for doing so. Helps keep driver’s accountable to the routes they should be following. This feature also helps keep the routes running on time and on track, and sets up the ability to send notifications for when the bus enters a given area.
  • Maintenance Monitoring: View maintenance codes and fuel levels on all vehicles. This feature enhances safety by preventing problems before they occur (with fuel levels), and preventing problems with lack of vehicles or sudden shortages due to required maintenance.
  • View time logs: Perfect for transportation managers, viewing time logs helps you with staffing numbers and budgetary concerns by seeing which drivers are efficiently managing their routes.

How Bus Safety Benefits Everyone

Obviously, the primary beneficiaries of increased bus safety are the students who use it as a mode of transportation. But on top of this most important benefit, parents will benefit as well. They will have peace of mind knowing that the school has eyes on the buses it utilizes, and knows where their children are at all times going to and from the school. Lastly, one of the primary benefits of using such a system is that the school has backup: by using nSide, they have a system set in place that gives drivers accountability and confidence while they are on the road. With nSide, your school bus fleet will be safer on the road and off. This means that on the roads of your community and city, both pedestrians, students, and other drivers will benefit from the added monitoring. 

Are you ready to get started with a customized quote? We would love to help you get your bus fleet set up with these unique safety features, and help keep all of your students safe on that morning and afternoon commute.

nSide|Fleet™

Track your entire fleet of school buses within the nSide platform

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Sources

Written by Grace Aspinwall | Silverbeet Creative Co.

March 22, 2021
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Preparedness is Key in Emergency Situations

Preparedness is Key in Emergency Situations

When it comes to an emergency situation, it’s often said that “preparedness is key”. When the emergency is a school shooting or a shooter on a campus, being prepared can be the difference between life and death for students, teachers, and staff members. The unthinkable nightmare of a gunman on campus is something no child or educator should have to consider, but that’s exactly what unfolded on November 14th, 2019 in Santa Clarita, California. A student at Saugus High School opened fire on his classmates, killing two, and then turning the gun on himself. Gracie Anne Muehlberger, age 15, and Dominic Blackwell, age 14, both lost their lives in this tragic event. 

On the day of the shooting, most teachers and students began their day just like any other, getting classrooms set up and arranged, and getting lessons underway. In an interview with CNN, teacher Kaitlin Holt explains how she was playing back a recent choir performance for her students so that they could analyze it. They had no idea that their day was about to be turned upside-down, as news of a shooter began to trickle into their classroom. Because they had not heard the gunshots ring out in their particular part of the building, they were unaware of the situation as it was happening. A young lady who had been shot came into the classroom, in shock, and not realizing she had two gunshot wounds. Kaitlin risked her own life to exit the classroom and find the supplies in a gunshot wound kit that would help her treat the wound. Her quick thinking about where the kit was located, and how to stop a bleed was incredibly important. “We had watched a tutorial on how to use that in one of our staff meetings and I did that the best I could,” she told CNN. 

Her students cooperated beautifully during such a stressful time, and Holt further explained that they had been through lockdown training at the school, to prepare for what they hoped to never experience. This training proved invaluable as the students knew to lock the doors, help create barricades, and to stay quiet and hidden. Holt ushered them into her office, which had locking doors, and worked to create an atmosphere of calm and confidence. Additionally, she shared with the news station that she felt the immense gravity of the situation, and didn’t feel that being a paramedic should be part of a teacher’s job, since there are such life and death consequences, adding, “That should not be part of the teacher’s job”.

How does nSide help?

Kaitlin Holt, the choir-teacher-turned-paramedic, repeatedly emphasized that she barely had time to think through her options in a situation that she had never anticipated before, but it draws attention to her excellent training. She knew what to do, where to go, and how to best assist her students, even without all of the information or the location of the shooter. She knew where medical supplies were located and how to use it, and where the safest location was. She also knew how to close off exits in the room, and where each one was. Training like this is crucial when it comes to protecting students, and it’s one of the reasons that nSide exists. Although our hope is that no teacher or staff member would ever have to use their emergency training, we desire to equip faculty members with confidence and training that will kick in, no matter the adrenaline, shock, or unknowns that are occurring around them. It’s easy to think through these things before they happen, but when they ARE happening, have you practiced enough for it to be second nature? Have you put enough precautions in place before the emergency? We want every student, teacher, or staff member to be able to answer this with a resounding YES. 

Since 2015, we have been thinking through what it means to truly feel secure in the walls of a school. Unfortunately, there are many things in our modern times that pose threats to staff and students in the academic setting. History has shown that emergencies can happen at any time, in many forms. Although this is sobering, there are things that can be done before the emergency that will set educators up for success, instead of chaos. Here at nSide, we are broaching the topic of school safety head-on. After all, when it comes to our children, straightforward answers and education are powerful tools, and school safety should never be passive.

Preparation can save lives

In the instance of this brave, amazing teacher, we saw how her preparedness and training worked together to allow her to make split-second decisions in a horrible situation. The things that were done ahead of time truly mattered. Saugus had practiced lockdowns with their students, so the students knew that panic and noise would increase their level of danger, and they cooperated to assist their teacher. Their bravery was based out of one of our key concepts: training works. Here are some of the ways that nSide can give schools peace of mind by equipping them with the training they need and want: 

  • Emergency Operation Plans: These plans are built on a cloud system, and allow accessibility school-wide, in the event of an emergency. Rather than being caught off-guard, teachers like Kaitlin Holt would know immediately if there was a threat to their classroom, and would have time to assess the situation. While Miss Holt had access to some of these types of features, such as location of exits, and locations of medical items, having an earlier notification would have given her additional breadth. Our systems use a combination of surveillance, communication, and controlled access so that those who need to know, do. No parent loves the idea of strangers having access to viewing the school, so the access is private and controlled, enabling parents, staff, and educators to be in rapid communication with each other when necessary. 
  • Training Sessions: Our training modules are research based and include subjects such as “Active Shooter Training”. We work with other organizations and partners to provide the most up-to-date and current training. We also work off the WICC Model of training, which stands for “Warn, Information, Choices, Communication”. It focuses on how to warn the school of an incident or impending situation, notifying and providing crucial information to those who need to know (public, media, parents, staff), equipping everyone to make appropriate choices, and communicating effectively. In her CNN interview, that brave choir teacher noted that her students had done lockdown drills before, and that’s why they knew precisely how to behave. These drills, when done appropriately, can decrease chaos and fear in the moment. 
  •  Mapping and Location: One of the biggest and most crucial moments in the Saugus High School shooting was when Miss Holt made the decision to secure her students and exit the classroom to find the gunshot wound kit for her student. She knew very quickly where it was, and how to find it. This was lifesaving for the student who had two gunshot wounds, and saved valuable time while things were still very unknown. Our mapping and location plans give staff the ability to troubleshoot on the fly by knowing where exits are, where the access points are, where medical items (such as AED machines or gunshot wound kits) are located. This step can give back the gift of time to those who are protecting children on campus. That time can mean the difference between life and death for people with deadly wounds, so why not buy back every precious moment by fully mapping your locations?

Why this matters

Although we have talked about preparing our educators and students, we sincerely believe that just as a choir teacher shouldn’t be asked to be a first responder, a school shouldn’t have to do these safety measures alone. With the rise of mental health crisis’ and school emergencies, teachers and staff have many critical items already on their very-full plates. So, that preparation should be taken care of, long before the school day begins. That’s why nSide can do the planning and preparing for you, with our comprehensive safety plans and evaluations. Our experienced and trained team can discuss the best routes of action for your facility, based on the size of the school, the ages of the students, and the location. We can give your teachers back their peace of mind by making their response second-nature, and removing doubts from their actions. Not only will our secure, inclusive plans set your school apart when it comes to safety, it will also speak volumes to concerned parents, who entrust their children to your school each and every day. Teachers are not first responders. It’s not in the job description. Let your teachers be teachers, and let us tackle the issue of school emergencies. 

If you’re interested in learning more about our series of products and services, please reach out to us at help@nside.io. We would love to share more about how we can help shape a culture of safety at your organization.

Written by Grace Aspinwall | Silverbeet Creative Co.

February 25, 2021
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Webinar: Successful Strategies for Thermal Screening on Campus

Webinar on November 19: Successful Strategies for Thermal Screening on Campus

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:  

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

November 12, 2020
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Only 15% of CARES Act Funds Used

Only 15% of CARES Act Funds Used

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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.

  1. There is $170 million for schools in Alabama to use to help with the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
  2. 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.
CONTACT US NOW!

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:

  1. Coordination of LEA preparedness and response efforts to improve coordinated responses with other agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
  2. 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,
  3. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve LEA preparedness and response efforts
  4. 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.
  5. 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!

CONTACT US NOW!
October 13, 2020
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nSide Newsletter 2020-Q3

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

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

SolutionParnership
nSide|EdgeFort Payne City Schools
nSide|EdgeHuntsville ACSTE
nSide|Fleet+WiFiMacon County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiCoffee County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiVestavia Hills City Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiWinston County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiHenry County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiBullock County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiFairfield City Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiCovington County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiDallas County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiChilton County Schools
nSide|Fleet+WiFiRussellville City Schools
nSide|LiveTuskegee Institute Middle School
nSide|LiveFort Payne City Schools
nSide|LiveAutauga County Schools
nSide|LiveUniversity of Montevallo – Palmer Hall
nSide|Live+ETSFlorence City Schools ETS
nSide|LiveHuntsville ASCTE; Cameras
nSide|LiveFranklin County Schools
nSide|LiveUniversity of Montevallo
nSide|LiveSylacauga City Schools
nSide|LiveThomasville City Schools
October 2, 2020
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nSide Releases Elevated Temperature Screening for Schools

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.

August 11, 2020
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nSide Newsletter 2020-Q2

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

Top Instagram Posts

Beautiful day for mounting a Point-to-Point connection with the new Verkada 4K Cameras! We’re wrapping up on the Notasulga High School football field.

A little throwback from Decatur’s Lockdown training!

Our team has been out mapping Houston County Schools for our latest partnership! We are so thrilled with the beginnings of this project.
July 1, 2020
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nSide Partners with Macon County Sheriff’s Office

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.

April 24, 2020
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Pandemic Planning for Your Community

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!

March 24, 2020
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Password Management

Password Management

We all know the exasperated eye roll that follows a “wrong password, try again” pop-up. It’s your fourth login attempt and, short of entering your seventh grade Yahoo password, there isn’t a combination you haven’t tried. 

Expired passwords, too many login attempts, and unique password requirements often leave us with several different versions of password combinations for sites. We know that writing them down on that coffee stained sticky note is tempting, but hear us out. Password managers are a simple and practical tool for the storage of your sensitive data. In the last 2 years, our Customer Success team has been asked about passwords an average of 17 times a month, equating to a need for help every other day. As frustrating as it can be, we at nSide recognize the value of administering password management, and we’re here to help you stay organized. 

Sites often demand specific requirements for username and password settings, such as uppercase letters or special character rules. And although it seems easier to only have one username/password combination, this approach will result in leaving your accounts at risk of cyber attack. If an attacker breaches even one of your accounts, they will undoubtedly try the same combination to poach information from your remaining records. So, not only do password managers keep all of your account information in one place, they also work to prevent others from acquiring your personal information.

Many users are not familiar with resources designed for this issue, hence the large amount of questions we receive in this area. Luckily, there are both free and acquirable password management applications such as LastPass, Dashlane, and Bitwarden that can get you on the right path.

Our Solution

Regardless of your selected password manager, the first choice you need to make is setting a master password. This master password is the only password you will have to remember going forward, so it’s crucial that you choose one strong enough to ensure the safekeeping of your password database. If you determine it’s best to write it down, we suggest that you store it in a safe, confidential space for the purpose of protecting your data. Of course, it’s important to note that whether you decide to physically store your master password or devote it to memory – you maintain that it won’t be lost. As with all passwords, losing it means going through a series of difficult channels to attain or reset it once more. The misplacement of this singular password also means the misplacement of your collected passwords. It might sound a bit intimidating, but it is this very function that protects your stored data from being viewed by anyone without access to the master password.

Upon setting and storing your master password, it’s likely you will need to start shifting your prior account passwords to more secure ones. Many password managers have the option to generate new passwords for you that are both unique and strong in form, and as they are changed, you will have the ability to arrange them according to category of business. This frees up your time spent searching for sensitive information and provides you with an organized structure to eliminate guesswork.

The only step left in your password management system is the simplest yet: remain up-to-date. Don’t forget to continue creating and storing your account information in the system, because the moment you lose track is the moment you become susceptible to losing track of your data. As you continue building your online accounts, remember that you now have an archive to preserve them for you!

Applications

While a great deal of password managers are accessible, we believe that the three below offer diverse values according to your individual or organizational preference. So, in this next section we’ll look at reliable options and leave it to you to choose what best meets your needs.

LastPass: Upon logging in, you’ll find that you can enter every unique username and password you have for business, social media, and team folders. After creating an account with LastPass, you can utilize the LastPass Security Challenge, which identifies the weak and duplicate passwords you should focus on changing. LastPass has a clean and easy to navigate site, which creates a space where you can readily retrieve passwords, via copy and paste. This manager is accessible via smartphone, computer, or cloud to ensure that you always have access to login information. 

Dashlane: Dashlane has a Security Dashboard built-in, similar to LastPass, and provides users with additional help to figure out the strength or weakness of their passwords already in place. Their membership offers the option to sync your dashlane data to every device automatically and autofill username and passwords for every account. Dashlane provides instant security alerts to your phone or computer whenever sites are breached, and its mobile app is handy for smartphones and tablets.

Bitwarden: Bitwarden is known to be a free and open-source password manager that stores data via encryption to the app. It offers cloud syncing for accessibility on any handheld device, as well as accessibility for MacOS, Windows, and Linux desktops. Bitwarden’s site states that data is encrypted through “salted hashing,” a process by which data is secured at a random value, ensuring that not even the Bitwarden team has access to your sensitive information. 

A secure password manager means accessing your account details across all devices, syncing your data, and attaining peace of mind that your information is secure. nSide, Inc. is passionate about taking the next step for safety among schools and personnel. Our team leverages a password management system as a means to our own data security, and we are strong advocates for creating habits that support prevention before recovery. As we continue to discuss tools that safeguard your information, our hope is that you will no longer need to worry about losing or recovering data. Above all, nSide wants to provide you with effective plans to promote a balanced and well prepared environment. 

As always, if you have any questions about password management or improving cybersecurity, our team is here to help!You can reach the nSide help team via live chat or by email at help@nside.io.

February 21, 2020
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