Harford County Public Schools received a $104,489 grant to craft digital maps that the school system hopes will improve response times in emergencies.

The grant from the Maryland Center for School Safety will support an initiative to create accurate, compatible digital maps of all Harford County school facilities, the school system said in a news release. The maps will consist of detailed floor plans, stairwell and door numbering, utility shutoffs, AED and trauma kit locations and external site layouts. Each map will be delivered to law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS, 911 dispatchers and school administrators.

“This initiative is about saving lives,” said Richard A. Ayers Sr., director of emergency services for Harford County, in a news release. “During emergencies, seconds matter.”

The mapping system is the latest measure the district has put in place to help increase school safety following the September 2024 shooting death of 15-year-old Warren Grant inside a bathroom at Joppatowne High School.

Initiatives have included installing OpenGate weapons detections systems for sporting events and other activities. The school system also increased the visibility and presence of school safety liaisons and resource officers, as well as expanded security camera coverage.

But students in the school system still express concern for their safety in the classroom. A state survey of students and educators taken during the 2024-2025 school year showed that Joppatowne students rated their school at 2.3 out of a possible 10 points when it came to feeling safe from violence, bullying and controlled substance use.

HCPS will work with a consultant to convert building floor plans into ArcGIS floor-aware maps to better understand and manage various spaces, like classrooms, within each school. The ArcGIS software also lets the school system digitally view the inside of each building and switch between floors to analyze layout and assess emergency response.

The school system will maintain and verify data annually, including field checks of 25% of schools each summer.

HCPS said it will prioritize mapping high schools, followed by middle, then elementary schools.

The maps will be useful in more than emergency situations, the school system said. They will support drills, reunification planning and hazard mitigation efforts.

“This grant strengthens our partnership with Harford County Government and emergency responders,” Superintendent Sean Bulson said in a news release. “Together, we are building a safer environment for students and staff by leveraging technology to improve emergency planning and real-time response.”

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