Header photo courtesy of Jamee Thobe / Garmaan Miller.
Challenges
Kenton City Schools is a public school district in Kenton, Ohio, serving 112 square miles in Hardin County. The district includes one combined Middle/High School and one Elementary School. Culture is at the heart of Kenton City Schools making it a special place to work where success depends on collaboration and achievement in a diverse learning community. This culture aligns everyone in the district around a common set of shared values and guiding principles.
In 2023, Kenton City Schools began construction of a new consolidated grades 6–12 campus to replace its aging, overcrowded Middle and High School buildings. Local voters approved the initial bond issue, securing the community’s share of funding alongside the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC).
The project adhered to the Ohio School Design Manual established by the OFCC. Through a competitive bid process, Telecor integrator SecurCom was selected as the low-voltage contractor. The new unified campus officially opened after Thanksgiving break in November, 2025 providing a modern learning environment and showcasing hands-on learning spaces.
Kenton City Schools uses Raptor Emergency Management, Visitor Management, and StudentSafe platforms. District staff were already familiar with the Raptor Emergency Management mobile app, making seamless integration with the district’s new Public Address and Intercom system a key priority. By tightly integrating the two platforms, the district could eliminate the need for staff retraining while reducing response time during critical situations such as a lockdown, when every second matters.
Ease of use and simplified system management were also key evaluation criteria. The district wanted a system that streamlined the management of class schedules, bell schedules, and recorded announcements while ensuring reliable day to day operation.
Solution
SecurCom designed and installed the eSeries Public Address and Intercom System in the new consolidated Middle/High School to ensure all district requirements were met. The Ethernet-based, plug-in-and-go design streamlined installation and exceeded expectations– including seamless two-way integration with the Raptor Emergency Management software.
Results
The user-friendly management interface has been a significant benefit for administrative staff, making it easy to adjust bell schedules and manage daily operations. Classroom call buttons ensure quick and seamless communication for teachers and staff. Daily announcements are clear and consistent, while pre-recorded emergency announcements help reduce the potential for human error during a crisis.
Using the familiar Raptor app, a lockdown can be initiated anywhere on campus and immediately trigger public address notifications. By removing critical seconds from the lockdown process, the integrated solution has enhanced safety throughout the school.
Students must feel safe to learn, and our students are safer because of the Raptor + Telecor integration. SecurCom’s technical expertise and understanding of the system are a tremendous value.
– Kolt Buchenroth, Director of Communication & Safety, Kenton City Schools
The success of the eSeries and Raptor solution at the Middle/High School prompted Kenton City Schools to replace the outdated, analog Public Address and Intercom System at the Elementary School. Replacement parts were no longer available, and the district wanted to replicate the solution implemented at the Middle/High School. Telecor’s hybrid upgrade approach, combined with SecurCom’s re-use of the existing analog wiring and speakers, enabled seamless integration without a complete system overhaul – minimizing disruption and installation time. The Elementary School was able to modernize its communication infrastructure cost-effectively and even add voice capability to their existing fire alarm system without incurring the expense of a full replacement.
SecurCom enjoyed working with Kenton City Schools on this important security project and found that both Telecor and Raptor made it easy for us to accomplish the integration.
– Doug Heitkamp, Vice President, SecurCom, Inc.
Established in Minster, Ohio in 1998, SecurCom, Inc. is a locally owned and operated low voltage systems provider serving the healthcare, educational, government, industrial, and commercial markets. Specializing in the integration of fire alarm and security systems, access control and video surveillance systems, fiber optics and data cabling infrastructure, nurse call, communication, and public address & sound systems, SecurCom’s trained technicians and BICSI and RCDD certified installers can accommodate virtually any facility’s needs. SecurCom’s commitment to quality service, flexible scheduling and competitive pricing remains a top priority, along with a dedication to excellence for the customers, employees and communities it serves.
For over 45 years, Telecor has established itself internationally as a provider and leader of quality intercom, paging, clock, mass notification and security communication products and systems. With thousands of systems installed across the United States and worldwide, Telecor offers complete process manufacturing – from the concept and design stages, through to a worldwide network of certified trained distributors in the Education, Healthcare, Security and Commercial markets.
