Gross, Bates and Schramak test out a new call box

SOUTHEAST— Members of the Brewster School Board and central administration have launched their emergency call boxes in the school campus. Brewster has become the first public school system in New York State to purchase the strobe lit call boxes that will allow those in need to summon immediate help.

Board of Education Vice President A. Gerald Schramek was joined by fellow trustee Roger Gross, Andy Bates, the district’s Director of Facilities and Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Business Tim Conway for the occasion.

Schramek said the new “Talk-A-Phone” technology was state of the art. The system has a direct link to the Putnam 911 Center in Carmel with an override to the Putnam Sheriff’s Department. “When emergency events take place on a school campus, it is vital that security personnel quickly identify the location of the distress and gather sufficient information to respond,” he said.

The blue light phones are similar to those found on college campuses around the U.S. The phones have been installed at five key locations throughout the campus including at Brewster High School, the JFK Elementary School, Garden Street School and on athletic fields.

Gross explained if someone needs help, “all they have to do is go to a callbox, press a button and instantaneous communication with the call center will be established while a blue flashing light will become activated.”

Schramek added that the closest law enforcement agency will respond and take whatever steps are necessary.

The $20,000 cost of the phones and installation was included in the state’s EXCEL grant funding last year, said Conway.