Chester County Commissioners Terence Farrell, Kathi Cozzone and Michelle Kichline, and Chester County Director of Emergency Services Bobby Kagel met with Chester County schools superintendents to update them on the progress and capabilities of the new emergency radio system being installed throughout the County.
At the briefing, held at the Chester County Intermediate Unit offices on Boot Road in Downingtown, the Commissioners noted that the installation of the $42.1 million Harris Corporation radio system was completed earlier this year, and extensive testing of equipment and radio coverage has been fully undertaken, revealing 99.8 percent portable, on-street coverage county-wide. This exceeds the 97 percent coverage guarantee provided by Harris Corporation.
To ensure that all schools, public and private, have adequate radio coverage inside, as well as outside each building, the County is offering district superintendents the services of a Telecom consultant to visit every school to conduct an interior signal strength test.
“This radio system upgrade is a real investment in the safety of our citizens and our emergency responders, and we’re pleased with the test results for coverage county-wide,” said Chester County Commissioners’ Chair Terence Farrell. “The radio signal strength test that we’re offering will determine whether or not a school district needs to take measures to extend the radio coverage inside school buildings, should the emergency radio coverage be less than 90 percent.”
“Just like the leaders of every school district, we are particularly concerned about the safety of our children, which is why our Department of Emergency Services provides a Safe Schools Coordinator, and why we are offering the testing service,” said Commissioner Kathi Cozzone.
Commissioner Michelle Kichline added, “What we ask for, in exchange for the free signal strength testing, is a commitment by the school districts to install any amplifiers that may be needed in schools for interior emergency radio coverage. This will help ensure the safety and security of students, staff and emergency responders in the event of an emergency.”
Early in October, the Commissioners joined administrators, township officials and first responders to tour and test the emergency radio coverage at Pickering Valley Elementary School in Upper Uwchlan Township. The “can you hear me now” test process confirmed excellent voice radio coverage throughout the interior of the school as well as the exterior.
Chester County’s emergency responders will begin using the new emergency voice radio system on Jan. 4, 2016, and by Apr. 21, the analogue equipment that has been in use since 1995 will no longer be used.
