As an IT Director, you’re the backbone of your district, managing network outages, cybersecurity threats, and countless other demands, all while keeping education first. Alabama’s Senate Bill 98 (SB98), effective October 1, 2024, adds a new responsibility: ensuring every K-12 school has accurate, verified floor plans for emergency response. At Ambit Solutions, we know the pressure this places on you, especially with uncertain funding. We’re here to help you meet this challenge with tools that simplify compliance and enhance safety.
Understanding SB98: The Mapping Mandate
SB98, the Alabama School Security Act, requires public schools to provide detailed digital floor plans through a statewide School Mapping Data Program managed by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). These plans must include precise layouts of buildings and grounds, labeled with critical details like rooms, exits, utilities, AEDs, and trauma kits, verified through on-site walk-throughs. The goal is clear: equip first responders with accurate maps to act swiftly in emergencies.
However, the mandate’s funding relies on legislative appropriations and grants from the School Security and Fire Safety Fund, often leaving districts to cover initial costs. For IT Directors already stretched thin, this can feel overwhelming—especially when outdated maps are the norm.
The Problem with Outdated Maps
Across Alabama’s schools, we’ve seen floor plans that haven’t been updated in years—missing new wings, mislabeling rooms, or omitting entire buildings from expansions. These inaccuracies aren’t just inconvenient; they’re a liability in a crisis, putting students, staff, and responders at risk. SB98 demands better, and manual updates or old-school blueprints fall short of the precision and accessibility required.
Matterport 3D Mapping: Precision Meets Practicality
Ambit’s Matterport 3D Site Mapping delivers a high-definition digital twin of your campus, capturing every classroom, hallway, and storm shelter with professional Pro3 scanners. This navigable, interactive tool is designed for your needs:
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Emergency-Ready: Overlays highlight exits, AEDs, panic buttons, and PA zones, ensuring responders have instant familiarity.
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Asset Management: Tag any device—VoIP phones, intercoms, Promethean boards, cameras, access points—with details like MAC addresses for streamlined IT audits and upgrades.
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Grant Support: Meets requirements for COPS SVPP grants, which fund digital school mapping (see FAQ p.6). Ambit’s Grant Funding Support can help your district secure thousands of dollars for these life-saving solutions.
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Responder Collaboration: We coordinate with local police, fire, and EMS to share secure map access, saving you time.
We handle the entire process—capture, customization, and secure delivery—so you can focus on your district’s priorities.
RBaaS: Comprehensive Compliance, Simplified
Our Ray Baum’s as a Service (RBaaS) complements Matterport by ensuring compliance with Ray Baum’s Act, Kari’s Law, and Alyssa’s Law. We conduct full system audits, test every handset for 911 accuracy, coordinate with your PSAP, and provide a one-year compliance certificate and a website badge to showcase your commitment to safety. Optional add-ons like PSAP training or Matterport integration enhance your emergency preparedness.
Supporting You, the IT Hero
You’re the one making schools safer and smarter, often with limited resources. Ambit’s role is to lighten your load with solutions that deliver compliance and confidence. With Matterport and RBaaS, you’re not just meeting SB98’s requirements—you’re building a safer, more efficient district. Plus, our Grant Funding Support can guide you through the COPS SVPP application process, unlocking funding to make these tools a reality without straining your budget.
Ready to simplify compliance and secure grant funding? Contact us for a free consultation. Let’s work together to turn this mandate into an opportunity for your schools.
