High school upgrading radio signal capabilities

Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road, is putting the finishing touches on security upgrades to improve radio signals for law enforcement.

Tom Barone, business manager for Avon Lake City Schools, said the district is finalizing a plan on a $123,000 project to upgrade the system after going through a mock disaster.

“We performed a mock disaster back at Avon Lake High School,” Barone said. “What we learned from that was our safety forces didn’t have the best communication signal to each other inside the high school.”

The project includes an amplifier which is tapped into a series of flat disc ceiling antennas located throughout the building to ensure safety forces can get access to radio signals in the event of an emergency, he said.

The city contracted with Avon-based Vasu Communications, a specialized firm that has worked with Cleveland Clinic Avon and several police and fire departments.

“It was not a simple task to put together,” Barone said.

The district is in the final stages of installing the upgrades and are working with the Avon Lake police and fire departments to go through a final test of the system and make any necessary adjustments, he said.

The system is expected to be operational by the time school begins Aug. 22.