Special Education Security: Archbishop Damiano School

Archbishop Damiano School (ADS) in Westville, NJ, is a non-profit institution serving over 135 students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The school’s mission centers on providing students with exceptional educational and therapeutic experiences while ensuring each child develops functional skills needed to become independent.

As part of a broader effort to modernize their facilities and strengthen campus security, ADS needed an enhanced physical security solution to meet their evolving needs.

Challenges

Operating from a single building facility with multiple entry points, safety and security stand as the number one priority for Archbishop Damiano School. “With all these doors, any student could run out of them at a moment’s notice,” Michelle McCloskey, Executive Director and Principal at Archbishop Damiano School explained.

Their security challenges take on added complexity due to their unique student population. “Our challenges are unique because our students are non-verbal. They can’t really tell us.” McCloskey added. “It is important that our staff are all highly trained to not let people they don’t know in the building, and to be able to have a good visual view of everything on the campus, whether from seeing who is at the doors to who is in the surrounding area, such as the playground and inside our walls.”

Following the implementation of vestibules, the school required an upgraded security solution that could effectively support their daily communication and access control needs. Aiphone products have kept students at ADS safe for over 15 years, so when the time came for an upgrade, the school chose Aiphone again for a security solution.

Solutions

Enhanced Visual Monitoring

The Aiphone IX | IXG Series provided a transformative upgrade to the school’s security. The entrance station features a wide-angle camera that allows staff to get a clear, expansive view of all visitors at the door, making it easier to confirm identity before granting access. “The cameras are bigger, giving us a wider angle. We can not only see who’s at the door, but also the communication is clear and not muffled.” McCloskey noted. The system also records video and audio, ensuring every interaction at the door is captured and can be reviewed later for enhanced security.

Clear Two-Way Communication

The IX | IXG Series has significantly improved both internal and external communication for the school. Staff can use the handset on the answering stations to engage in clear, private conversations with visitors at the door. Additionally, the system’s SIP compatibility allows seamless integration with existing phone systems, enhancing communication flexibility across the entire school facility.

Secured Vestibule Entries

With the newly installed vestibules, the IX | IXG Series has already made a noticeable impact in controlling access. The intercom system allows staff to visually communicate with visitors and unlock the first set of doors, allowing them to enter the vestibule. If they wish to grant visitor entry to the building, staff can easily unlock the second set of doors using speed dial buttons on the answering stations. McCloskey shared, “People can drop off packages at the vestibule and never enter the building, which has made a big difference for us.

Looking ahead, Archbishop Damiano School plans to enhance security further by replacing dated doors with vestibules and add right-to-access buttons for better security control. McCloskey explained, “These changes will prevent doors from opening automatically and ensure more secure access, particularly for our students.” The IX | IXG Series provides peace of mind to staff, knowing they have a secure and efficient system in place to handle both current and future security needs.

Mobile Access Control

The IX | IXG Series mobile app also added a layer of convenience and awareness to the school’s admins and staff. “What I also love is that I can get on my phone,” said McCloskey. “I can even be off-site and still have visibility to our school campus if I choose to do so.” This capability has proven particularly valuable for after-hours operations and emergency situations because it extends visitor monitoring, communication and access control beyond fixed answering stations.

Improved Staff Confidence

With clearer communication, improved visual monitoring, and greater control over access, Aiphone’s system has made staff at Archbishop Damiano School feel more confident in managing building security. “The intercom system upgrade made our staff feel a lot safer and more secure about the people they’re letting in because they’re not struggling so much with communication,” McCloskey added. “We look forward to more opportunities with Aiphone’s systems that we haven’t yet explored.”

Results

Aiphone’s security and communication technology enables Archbishop Damiano School to maintain the highest levels of safety while focusing on their educational mission. The integrated system provides the tools staff need to stay connected, informed, and prepared while protecting their unique student population.

When it comes to safeguarding special needs students, situational awareness and clear communication are essential. The Aiphone IX | IXG Series delivers these capabilities while adapting to the unique requirements of special education environments.

“The integrity of our building’s security can be maintained,” McCloskey concluded. “That’s probably the biggest thing for me, knowing that everyone within our walls is safe.”