To the editor:
Over the last several years, the Iowa School Safety Initiative has built an important foundation for emergency preparedness through the use of critical incident mapping (CIM) technology provided by GeoComm. Through the state’s partnership with GeoComm, approximately 1,400 Iowa schools were given access to this technology at no cost to local districts.
That statewide effort gave Iowa schools, 911 call centers and first responders access to detailed information that can support a faster, more coordinated emergency response.
But Iowa is now at a critical point. State funding is no longer being provided, and school districts must decide whether to continue maintaining this technology locally.
These detailed indoor maps help first responders and school administrators prepare for and respond to emergencies with greater clarity. The technology includes critical information, such as classroom locations, entrances and exits, stairwells, AEDs and other public safety points of interest. In an emergency, that level of detail helps first responders understand a building before they step inside, giving them better situational awareness when time, coordination and accuracy matter most.
Most people do not think about what first responders see when they arrive at the scene of an emergency. Those first few seconds are critical. When responders have access to accurate building information, they can move with greater purpose and make more informed decisions under pressure.
Every year, Iowa schools make more than 2,500 calls to 911. That averages to about 14 emergency calls a day. Most of those calls are not major incidents, but they reinforce why preparation matters. Although many people associate mapping technology with active shooter situations, these maps can also support emergency planning and response during drills, medical emergencies, severe weather, fires, evacuations and other incidents.
In each of these situations, shared location information helps school administrators, 911 dispatchers, law enforcement, fire and EMS work from the same understanding of the building.
A significant amount of time, resources, and public investment went into creating these maps. The question now is whether Iowa will preserve and build on that progress.
School buildings change constantly. Classrooms move. Renovations happen. Entrances are updated. Safety assets are added or relocated. Without regular maintenance, maps can become outdated, and outdated information can limit their value during an emergency. Maintaining these maps is not just a technical task. It is part of keeping emergency preparedness current.
Student and staff safety should never be treated as an afterthought. Iowa has already taken meaningful steps to strengthen school safety and improve emergency readiness across the state. Continuing to invest in high-quality, accurate maps is one way school districts can protect that progress and ensure responders have the information they need when it matters most.
School safety is not the responsibility of one organization alone. It requires collaboration between school districts, first responders, 911 leaders, public safety agencies, local governments and the broader community.
Although statewide funding is ending, the need for accurate, maintained school maps has not gone away. If anything, the need is becoming more important as schools continue to evolve and emergency response becomes increasingly dependent on shared, reliable information.
Iowa school leaders should engage with their public safety partners and local governments to ensure the safety of students, staff and campuses remains a priority. The maps have been built. The foundation is in place. Now is the time to make sure that foundation remains strong, current and ready to support the people who depend on it.
T. J. Kennedy, president and CEO of GeoComm
Bend, Oregon