Bethesda Church & School Get Safety, Communication Upgrade

Interface Systems Secures Bethesda Community Church and School with Major Tech Upgrade

Interface Systems, a top managed service provider specializing in business security and networks for multi-location businesses, has successfully completed a significant security overhaul for Bethesda Community Church and Bethesda Christian School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Bethesda Christian School, serving over 530 students from preschool through 12th grade, is a highly regarded private institution in Texas. With church services, school activities, and community events, the sprawling 26-acre campus sees hundreds of visitors daily. This constant activity demanded advanced safety and security systems to safeguard students, staff, and parishioners while also simplifying day-to-day operations.

The church’s outdated fire alarms, intercoms, and CCTV system were becoming increasingly unreliable, leading to false alarms and communication breakdowns. To tackle these issues, Bethesda turned to Interface to modernize its infrastructure.

Interface designed and implemented an integrated solution that included:

• Fire Alarm System: A modern fire alarm system replaced the old one, communicating urgency effectively without causing undue panic, especially crucial for the schoolchildren.

• Managed Access Control: A state-of-the-art system was introduced, streamlining campus entry management for administrators. Its cloud-based nature allows for remote access control, eliminating the need for complex on-site server management.

• Video Surveillance Upgrade: A 64-channel IP camera system was installed in the new school building, with the capability to replace existing analog cameras over time. The system enables remote monitoring, allowing staff to verify alarms with live video before responding, reducing unnecessary dispatches.

• Intercom and Paging: The outdated intercom was replaced with a flexible IP-based system that supports school bell scheduling, room-to-room communication, and campus-wide announcements. Integrated with the access control system, it simplifies visitor entry management for administrators.

“The new system is effective. It gets the point across that it’s time to evacuate, but it doesn’t create panic, especially among the kids,” said Rick Campbell, Facilities Manager at Bethesda Community Church. “Having remote access to cameras and alarms has been a huge help.”

The installation was carefully planned to minimize disruption to classes and worship services. “Interface worked around the kids and kept us up and running during installation,” Campbell added. “The integration was seamless, and now everything is running smoothly.”

With Interface’s upgrades, Bethesda has significantly cut down on false dispatches, improved communication across the campus, and can now scale its systems for future growth.

“Initially, we were unsure about the cost, but the investment has been well worth it,” Campbell concluded. “I’d recommend Interface to other churches without hesitation.”

A full case study and video testimonial featuring Bethesda Community Church are now available.