East Bridgewater Schools Consider Advanced Emergency Mapping System for Campus Safety
EAST BRIDGEWATER - November 18 - The East Bridgewater School Committee explored a sophisticated emergency mapping technology November 18 that could transform how first responders navigate school buildings during critical incidents. The Critical Response Group (CRG) mapping system, demonstrated by company representative Hardy Allen, offers detailed floor plans and aerial views designed to reduce response times and improve communication during emergencies.
The Full Story
Hardy Allen, a former Navy SEAL and representative from Critical Response Group, presented the mapping technology that has been adopted by 25,000 schools across 46 states. The system, derived from military gridded reference graphics used during overseas operations, provides color-coded, grid-overlay maps that allow emergency personnel to communicate precise locations within school buildings using a simple coordinate system similar to the game Battleship.
Police Chief Michael Jenkins and Fire Chief John Dzialo brought the technology to the committee’s attention after being impressed by initial demonstrations. The system addresses a critical challenge facing school safety: the majority of responding agencies work with outdated or inaccurate architectural plans and lack familiarity with building layouts during emergencies. Allen noted that during the Uvalde school shooting, inaccurate schematics showed walls where doors existed and windows where walls stood, significantly hindering the response.
The mapping process involves CRG engineers conducting 60 to 90-minute walkthroughs of each school building with an escort to verify accuracy and collect data on critical features including AED locations, bleed kits, utility shutoffs, and camera positions. The company produces both micro maps showing interior building details and macro maps providing 30,000-foot views of campuses for incident command, evacuation planning, and emergency vehicle staging.
A distinguishing feature of CRG’s approach is that public safety agencies receive the maps at no cost. Schools procure the mapping service, which averages approximately $4,000 per building, with pricing based on the number of floors rather than square footage. The one-time project cost includes integration with existing systems used by 911 dispatch centers, police mobile data terminals, fire department tablets, and school security software.
Allen emphasized the maps integrate with over 160 partner platforms including RapidSOS for 911 centers, various mobile applications used by first responders, and school security systems like video management platforms and panic button systems. The company also provides printable versions of maps, acknowledging that technology can fail during critical moments when paper backups become essential.
The technology includes an optional maintenance program at approximately $500 per school annually to handle updates when building changes occur. Allen stressed that schools should not modify maps independently to avoid dangerous scenarios where public safety operates with outdated information. The first year of maintenance is included in the initial project cost.
CRG also offers complimentary tabletop training exercises bringing together school officials and public safety personnel to practice realistic emergency scenarios using the large-format maps. Allen indicated these exercises have been universally well-received as they provide rare opportunities for stakeholders to coordinate response strategies.
School Committee member Peter Furia inquired about the timeline for implementation, noting that East Bridgewater voters just approved construction of a new school opening in September 2028. Allen responded that standard implementation takes two to four months, though the company has completed larger districts in expedited timeframes when needed, including Boston Public Schools in under a month when requested.
Furia also questioned whether CRG has engaged with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to promote the technology statewide. Allen acknowledged that Massachusetts has been challenging to navigate due to varying municipal budget constraints and procurement rules. He noted that other states have implemented statewide rollouts through legislative action allocating state funding, with seven states now having complete coverage. A bill currently pending at the Massachusetts State House has support from state fire chiefs, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
Committee members asked whether mutual aid partners from neighboring communities would have access to the maps. Allen confirmed that CRG provides maps to unlimited agencies at no additional cost, noting it’s both the right approach and has driven organic company growth as responders from other communities request maps for their own schools.
The Fire Chief confirmed that all department vehicles have the mobile data terminals necessary to utilize the digital mapping system. The Police Chief noted that integration would work seamlessly with existing equipment. Both chiefs will explore potential grant funding opportunities to offset the procurement cost.
The presentation concluded without the committee taking formal action, as the procurement must go through a competitive bidding process. Superintendent Gina Williams indicated that Director of Business Administration John Shea has already contacted vendors and expects to present a recommendation at the December meeting after gathering competitive proposals.
In other major business, Superintendent Williams provided an extensive update on her entry plan and professional goals as she completes her first months in the district’s top leadership role. Williams reported conducting approximately 40 stakeholder meetings with groups ranging from third-graders to high school students, staff members, parents, and community members. She described the sessions as highly valuable, with students providing thoughtful insights about district strengths including the small-district environment that allows relationship-building across grade levels.
Williams committed to establishing an ongoing Superintendent’s Council that will meet monthly to maintain regular feedback loops with students, staff, and parents even after her formal entry plan concludes. She emphasized the importance of gathering diverse perspectives rather than relying solely on her own observations from previous district roles.
The superintendent’s three professional goals for the year include implementing an induction program for new administrators, developing data-driven student learning goals across all buildings, and completing her entry plan to inform a comprehensive district improvement plan. Williams is working with leadership coach Maureen LaCroix, who visits twice monthly to observe learning walks, attend administrative meetings, and provide feedback on superintendent practices.
Williams described the learning walk process, which involves weekly walkthroughs of classrooms with building principals focusing on three specific areas: teacher and student discourse patterns, small group instructional practices, and intentional use of technology. The initiative also provides teachers opportunities to observe colleagues’ classrooms and share best practices, with eventual plans for cross-building visits between teachers at transition grade levels.
School Committee Chair Dan Picha praised Williams’ thoughtful, data-driven approach during the mid-cycle performance review, noting that effective leadership requires gathering information and background before implementing changes rather than immediately “flipping the table over.”
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer McPartland presented required updates to student handbooks across all three schools based on recommendations from the state’s Integrated Monitoring Review team. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education identified areas needing clarification or addition, including expanded nondiscrimination policy language, smoking policies, and ensuring school committee policies are fully spelled out rather than only referenced by hyperlink. The changes address the concern that families without computer access to follow links need to see actual policy language in printed handbooks. The committee will vote on the handbook amendments at the December meeting.
McPartland also presented the district’s new Graduation Competency Determination policy, required after Massachusetts voters eliminated the MCAS graduation requirement in November 2024. The new policy requires students to complete and pass specific courses with full credit: English grades 9-10, Algebra 1 and Geometry, one year of Biology, Physics, or Chemistry, and U.S. History for the class of 2027 forward. Students must demonstrate mastery through final exams or projects in these courses, with all courses taken in grades 9-12 at East Bridgewater Junior Senior High School. The district will continue requiring all students to participate in MCAS testing for state and federal requirements, scholarship eligibility, and data analysis purposes. The committee will vote on the competency determination policy in December to meet the state’s December 31 deadline.
Director of Business Administration John Shea provided an extraordinarily detailed budget update including new projections for year-end spending. Shea presented estimates showing the operating budget currently projects a deficit of approximately $1.6 million, but when accounting for revolving funds from school choice ($250,000), busing fees ($62,000), and circuit breaker special education reimbursement ($1,466,000), the district anticipates finishing the fiscal year with a surplus of approximately $176,000. This projection assumes conservative spending estimates including all departments spending to their full available balances.
Shea’s analysis included detailed breakdowns by spending category, with pupil services representing the largest challenge due to out-of-district tuitions and specialized transportation costs. The salary budget shows expenses tracking closely to projections, though Shea cautioned that his estimates don’t fully account for variables including recent Family Medical Leave Act requests, potential mid-year resignations requiring replacements, or early retirement payout timing.
The business director emphasized that multiple factors could change the year-end projection, but if the surplus materializes, options include prepaying tuitions, addressing the early retirement payouts structured to allow payment in either fiscal year 2025 or 2026, or other advance payments that reduce future obligations.
The committee received information about upcoming preschool tuition rates for the 2026-2027 school year. Williams and Shea explained the administration’s philosophy of implementing annual modest increases rather than waiting multiple years and imposing large rate jumps. The district is currently surveying area preschool rates to ensure competitiveness while calculating increases that at minimum cover salary growth for preschool staff to keep the program cost-neutral. A rate proposal will come to the December meeting.
The School Committee Goals Subcommittee reported revisions to the committee’s annual goals, with extensive discussion about Goal Two regarding student well-being and success. The original goal proposed quarterly reporting of comprehensive data including test results, attendance, discipline, and social-emotional wellness metrics. After consultation with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and legal counsel, the subcommittee learned that staff attendance data can only be shared in aggregate form without identifying information by building, grade, or individual.
Committee members debated what specific data the committee needs to inform policy decisions versus what constitutes micromanaging district operations. Discussion centered on whether quarterly reporting requirements make sense given that most significant data like MCAS results, i-Ready assessments, and student surveys are only collected annually or three times yearly. The committee decided to have the subcommittee meet again with district data analytics experts to refine Goal Two based on what information is available through the district’s data analytics platform and what falls appropriately within the committee’s policy-making purview rather than day-to-day operational oversight.
School Committee member Peter Furia reported on the Massachusetts Association of School Committees joint conference, where resolutions were passed including one restricting BMI testing in schools except when requested by healthcare providers with parental approval. Furia connected with the president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees about the process for East Bridgewater to submit a resolution regarding unfunded state mandates. The MASC President expressed strong support for pursuing such a resolution, arguing that districts must stand up to the state continuing to impose requirements without providing funding. President Jason Fraser from Plympton offered to meet with the East Bridgewater committee in January or February to explain the resolution submission process.
The committee accepted two donations: $4,000 from the Mitchell School PTA to fund an afterschool homework club for grades 3-6, and a piano donation from an East Bridgewater resident for the Gordon W. Mitchell School. Committee members expressed gratitude for both donations, with the piano replacing two broken instruments previously at the school.
The committee approved homeschool education plans as reviewed by Assistant Superintendent McPartland, and voted to approve multiple payroll and accounts payable warrants totaling expenditures across late October and early November.
In administrative scheduling matters, the committee planned a Superintendent Evaluation training workshop for January to ensure all members, including three newly elected officials taking office in May, understand the superintendent evaluation platform. Committee members preferred an evening session over a weekend workshop. The committee also scheduled an additional meeting for early May before the election to complete Superintendent Williams’ annual evaluation before board turnover, and planned a school committee finance workshop for February as budget season intensifies. The committee will also host state Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida and state Senator Michael Brady for a mid-year legislative update, though the timing may shift from December to January depending on the legislative session schedule.
Why It Matters
The emergency mapping technology under consideration could significantly reduce response times during critical incidents at East Bridgewater schools by giving first responders accurate, immediately accessible building layouts and campus information. With school safety remaining a paramount concern for families and communities, the investment represents a proactive approach to ensuring police, fire, and emergency medical services can navigate buildings efficiently whether responding to medical emergencies or active threats. The system’s integration with existing communication platforms and availability to mutual aid partners addresses the reality that major incidents require coordinated responses from multiple agencies that may be unfamiliar with school buildings. For parents and residents, the technology represents an invisible but crucial safety infrastructure upgrade that could prove invaluable in the worst-case scenarios that communities hope never occur but must prepare to handle effectively.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To open the meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 00:01:08)
Motion: To approve edits to Central School, Gordon W. Mitchell School, and Junior Senior High School student handbooks. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 01:03:18)
Motion: To approve payroll warrant 15PS dated 10-8-2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Approved with one abstention. (Timestamp: 02:09:40)
Motion: To approve payroll warrant 17PS dated 10-22-2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Approved with one abstention. (Timestamp: 02:09:58)
Motion: To approve accounts payable warrant SW number 16 dated 10-15-2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 02:10:15)
Motion: To approve accounts payable warrant SW number 18 dated 10-29-2025. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 02:10:34)
Motion: To accept Mitchell School PTA donation of $4,000 for afterschool activities account. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 02:10:59)
Motion: To accept piano donation from East Bridgewater resident for Gordon W. Mitchell School. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 02:11:43)
Motion: To approve homeschool education plans as recommended by Assistant Superintendent Jennifer McPartland. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 02:12:40)
Motion: To adjourn the meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 02:14:32)
Public Comment
No members of the public were present for the public comment period. The Student Advisory Council did not have a representative present at the meeting.
What’s Next
The administration will complete the competitive bidding process for emergency mapping services and present a recommendation to the committee at the December 2025 meeting. The School Committee will vote on the Graduation Competency Determination policy and student handbook amendments at the December meeting to meet state deadlines. The administration will finalize preschool tuition rate recommendations for committee action in December. The School Committee Goals Subcommittee will reconvene with district data analytics staff to refine Goal Two regarding data reporting. A Superintendent Evaluation training workshop for school committee members will be scheduled for January 2026, followed by a school committee finance workshop in February 2026. The committee will add an additional meeting in early May 2026 before the election to complete the superintendent’s annual evaluation. Representatives from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees will be invited to a January or February meeting to discuss the process for submitting a resolution on unfunded state mandates. State Representative Sullivan-Almeida and State Senator Brady will be invited for a mid-year legislative update, likely in January depending on the legislative session calendar. The Southeast Regional Vocational Technical High School Lunch is scheduled for Friday at the East Bridgewater Senior Center for those who RSVPed. The girls’ volleyball state championship team will be recognized at the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday and invited to a future school committee meeting and potentially the State House.