Newark Central School District unifies operations with Genetec Security Center

MONTRÉAL—Newark Central School District (NCSD) in New York has expanded its deployment of Genetec Security Center across seven buildings, integrating video surveillance, access control, emergency communications and sensors into a single platform aimed at improving situational awareness and streamlining incident response. 

Serving approximately 1,800 students and nearly 600 staff members, the district had accumulated multiple standalone security systems over time and was looking for a more coordinated approach to security management. Working with Convergint, NCSD expanded its existing Genetec deployment while preserving its camera infrastructure and implementing upgrades in phases to help manage costs.

“It was a multi-year project, but we can confidently say it was worth it. With the help of Convergint and Genetec, we've improved our processes and have a clearer picture of what's happening across our district,” said Mike Ishler, co-director of technology at NCSD. “Our students and staff feel safer, and our community has greater confidence in what we're doing to keep it that way.”

Today, the district manages more than 400 cameras, 200 doors, 500 cardholders, 30 vape sensors and several automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras through Security Center. By bringing those technologies together on a unified platform, district officials said they have improved both day-to-day operations and emergency response capabilities.

Genetec said automated alerts now provide designated personnel with linked video to quickly assess incidents, while centralized monitoring and lockdown procedures help staff coordinate responses during emergencies. Integration with Microsoft Active Directory also automates access rights based on employee roles, reducing manual administration and helping ensure permissions remain up to date.

The district has also used the platform to address student vaping. When a vape sensor is triggered, Security Center bookmarks the event and notifies administrators and the school resource officer for investigation. According to Genetec, vaping incidents within the district have decreased by approximately 93%.

Looking ahead, district officials cited Security Center's open architecture as a key advantage, allowing NCSD to add new technologies as security requirements evolve. Through an ongoing service agreement with Convergint, the district also receives remote support, maintenance services and on-site assistance when needed.

The full case study is available at: https://www.genetec.com/customer-stories/newark-central-school-district   

Related: City of Carmel unifies municipal operations on Genetec platform 

Photo courtesy of Genetec