METHUEN, Mass. — Methuen public schools will have one less security measure come fall due to budget cuts.
Methuen has had the CopSync technology for three years, all paid for by a grant. The grant is now up and the $6,000 a year needed to keep it was cut from the $72 million budget.
CopSync opens a two-way chat dialogue in real time between school officials and police officers.
“Those individuals experiencing the threat can relay that message directly to the patrol units or first responders as they arrive on scene,” said Brandon Flanagan with CopSync.
The school official types in the threat and the responding officers can see where they are in the building because the software has the school's floor plan.
“Some of those costs can be quite, quite heavy, but in a situation like this when the grant runs out it was only a small amount,” said Methuen Mayor Stephen Zanni.
All five schools in Methuen have officers on site during the school day but the concern is with the buildings so big they can't be everywhere at the same time.
The mayor is now stepping in to find a solution, hoping to renew it before school begins.