Long Island high school unveils AI-enabled security system with autolocking classrooms and live video for first responders

Plainedge High School in North Massapequa, Long Island, has installed what officials described as one of the nation's most advanced school security systems, outfitting classrooms with autolocking doors and high-resolution video feeds that first responders can access in real time.

The system, developed with security firm XSponse and unveiled ahead of the new school year, includes door hardware that can secure classrooms automatically during emergencies and software that company officials said can assess threats in split seconds. School administrators carry smart-ID badges that activate the system, make schoolwide announcements and stream live video to authorized emergency personnel.

"It's going to save lives," XSponse CEO Lee Mandel said, describing the system's ability to give first responders immediate visual information from inside classrooms. "No one has been able to put eyes into a classroom. We're, in essence, putting a first responder in every single classroom," he added.

School officials said the package pairs physical upgrades — classroom doors that lock automatically in an emergency — with a networked monitoring system that routes video to police and other emergency responders. The school can also broadcast instructions and announcements through the same network.

District administrators presented the rollout one day after a mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. School officials said the timing underscored the urgency of enhancing protective measures but did not link the deployment to any specific local threat. The district said it planned to have the system fully operational when classes begin.

XSponse described the system as combining rapid threat assessment algorithms with secure live-streaming capability. The company said its platform is designed to minimize response time by delivering verified visual information to 911 centers and on-scene units, though company and district officials did not release technical specifications or details about the underlying algorithms.

Officials emphasized that access to classroom video is restricted to authorized personnel and activated only during emergencies or by badge holders. The district said it had established protocols for activation, data retention and access, but did not provide the policy documents or timelines for footage storage.

Public discussion around school security often balances potential safety benefits against concerns about privacy and surveillance. District officials said they consulted with local law enforcement during planning and that the system was intended solely to protect students and staff.

The district and XSponse declined to provide cost figures in initial briefings. School officials said they would share additional operational details with parents and the community in forthcoming meetings and communications ahead of the school year.

Officials said staff training on the new system is ongoing and that administrators and teachers will receive instruction on badge usage, emergency activation procedures and protocols for coordinating with first responders. The district did not provide an exact date for when all staff would complete training but said it expected the rollout to be completed before students return.

School officials and XSponse characterized the system as a technological step intended to reduce response time in critical incidents by providing immediate situational awareness to law enforcement. Additional details about deployment, operational rules and vendor contracts are expected to be released to the public by the district in the coming days.