Lincoln County Schools Elevates Student Safety with State-of-the-Art Unified Security Platform

Lincoln County Schools Embraces Modern Security Solutions with Genetec

Lincoln County Schools (LCS) in North Carolina has taken a significant leap forward in safeguarding its students and staff by overhauling its district-wide security infrastructure. Partnering with Genetec, a global leader in physical security software, LCS has successfully unified its video surveillance, access control, and intrusion detection systems under the robust Genetec Security Center platform. This modernization effort promises enhanced safety, streamlined operations, and a more secure environment across all its facilities.

Serving over 11,000 students across 23 schools—including elementary, middle, high schools, a technology school, and an alternative school—along with four crucial support buildings, LCS recognized the urgent need to upgrade its aging security technology. The goal was clear: implement a modern, integrated system that met current needs and was future-proof.

“Genetec Security Center offered us a great option,” stated Steven Hoyle, Chief Technology Officer for Lincoln County Schools. “We have the features we need in one solution that’s easy to use and fits our budget.”

A Unified Vision for Enhanced Safety

At the core of LCS’s requirements was a powerful, open, and unified security platform. The district sought the flexibility to leverage existing video and access control hardware while also having the option to upgrade devices incrementally. Crucially, they aimed to manage all security facets—video, access control, and intrusion systems—from a single interface, with the potential to integrate other vital school systems, such as their human resources database, to automate processes.

The modernization began with the district’s high schools, where video surveillance and access control systems were seamlessly integrated into Genetec Security Center. Radionix intrusion detection was also added, creating a comprehensive security blanket. Upon completion, hundreds of cameras, doors, and intrusion sensors across all district buildings will be centrally connected to the Genetec open architecture platform. This strategic approach has allowed LCS to maximize its investment by retaining much of its existing hardware and transitioning to newer devices at a measured pace.

“Genetec Security Center supports a wide range of third-party technologies, and that’s been a huge bonus for us,” explained Hoyle. “We have the freedom to keep some existing hardware, upgrade to newer devices, and integrate other business systems. This helps us find the right balance between enhancing security and managing costs. And we can do it at our own pace, taking our time to re-evaluate needs and make decisions from there.”

Streamlined Operations and Reduced False Alarms

Beyond hardware integration, LCS has significantly digitized its administrative processes. By connecting Microsoft Active Directory and its Radionix intrusion detection system within Security Center, the district has achieved remarkable efficiencies. With Active Directory integration, cardholder privileges are now automatically assigned based on an individual’s job role and location. This means that when employees join or leave the district, their door and system access is automatically activated or deactivated, eliminating manual oversight and potential security gaps.

Furthermore, the synchronization of cardholders with the intrusion detection system has dramatically reduced false alarms, a common and costly issue for many organizations. “In the past, intrusion alarms would sometimes be activated when someone was still in the building, resulting in many false alarms,” said Hoyle. “Now, staff can badge in during set hours, and the intrusion system is automatically armed or disarmed. We’re seeing far fewer false alarms and fewer calls to law enforcement and our administrators.”

As the upgrades continue, Lincoln County Schools is actively collaborating with Genetec to expand capabilities further, aiming to connect additional systems that will foster faster, more coordinated communication and response across the entire district. This commitment to advanced security solutions underscores LCS’s dedication to creating a safe and conducive learning environment for every student.