Students and employees in Flowing Wells’ 10 schools will be able to more quickly report emergencies now that the district installed “panic buttons.”

The emergency alert system includes panic button software that can be discreetly activated from computers, a safety app for smartphones, and physical duress buttons that can rest on or under desks, Flowing Wells Unified School District announced Tuesday.

The new features will allow staff to trigger a lockdown from their computers and smartphones in case of an emergency on campus.

“The security of our students and staff is critical, and we’re proud to be partnering with 911Cellular as part of our commitment to keeping our schools as safe as possible,” said Kimberly Parkinson, the district’s associate superintendent, in a news release

The Flowing Wells district, which largely covers northwestern Tucson, serves approximately 6,000 students in its 10 schools.

Parents and students have rising concerns about gun violence at school. Veuer’s Tony Spitz has the details.

Have any questions or news tips about K-12 education in Southern Arizona? Contact reporter Genesis Lara at glara@tucson.com

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Lara joined the Star in 2021. She previously worked for the Nogales International, where she was named the 2019 Community Journalist of the Year by the Arizona Press Club & 2020 Journalist of the Year for non-dailies by the Arizona Newspaper Association.

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