Improving school security with visitor management
Mulvane School District steps up security with Axis cameras, video intercoms, and door controllers - all managed through AXIS Camera Station Pro, which unifies video monitoring and visitor management.
Unifying security for Mulvane School District
Mulvane, Kansas is a tight-knit, rural community just 30 minutes from Wichita. Its unified school district governs four attendance centers: pre-K through second grade, third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and ninth through 12th grade. It also runs a virtual academy for high schoolers.
“When I joined the district, we didn’t have a lot of cameras in place,” shares Joshua Nearhood, technology director for Mulvane Unified School District 263. “And the existing cameras were a hodgepodge of brands you could buy at any big box store.”
Nearhood set out to change that. “We wanted to build a structured solution that we could operate district-wide and then install as many cameras as our budget would allow.”
Addressing security and visitor management concerns
Partnering with Convergint, an Axis partner, Nearhood helped establish a scalable technology roadmap aligned with the district’s long-term approach to security and visitor management.
Replacing legacy cameras, expanding coverage
First, they replaced the legacy cameras with Axis dome cameras, using a virtual server to link them to Axis video management software (VMS). Viewing live camera footage and searching through video became simplified with the touch of a button. This provides school administration with greater insight into what was going on across their campuses.
“The video management system has this mapping feature that gives us a good overview of every building in the school district and the location of every camera,” explains Nearhood. “So if an event occurs, an administrator can click on an icon and follow that incident as it moves from camera to camera through the building.”
Installing stricter entrance security
The next step focused on entrance security, with the installation of new Axis door controllers and video intercoms at key entry points. To support this, they paired two new physical Axis servers with AXIS Camera Station Pro and its Secure Entry component. The result was an all-in-one video and access control management solution administered from a single pane.
“When we updated access control at their main entrances, we also installed Axis door controllers at other doors so administrators could quickly lockdown all points of entry if there was an emergency,” says Josiah Ward, account manager for Convergint Technology.
As an additional security measure, when the lockdown feature activates, all the cameras in the building begin recording.
With the new technology in place, Mulvane schools are becoming safer and more secure:
- School secretaries are screening visitors before unlocking entrances.
- District administrators now have a log of everyone entering and leaving each school facility.
Secure Entry is working very well for us. We can screen visitors and we’re able to track who’s used a specific door or who’s left it open or blocked it from shutting.
Upgrading systems leads to safer schools
The security and visitor management upgrades have led to a significant improvement in school safety and incident response.
Enforcing better safety practices
“Secure Entry is working very well for us,” maintains Joshua Nearhood. “We’re able to track who’s used a specific door or who’s left it open or blocked it from shutting.” Nearhood also receives an alarm if someone forces a door open or doesn’t shut the door properly.
Seamless coordination with first responders
To minimize response time during critical incidents, the district has built a close partnership with local law enforcement and first responders. By leveraging its unified security infrastructure, alerts and information can be shared quickly and consistently across teams.
“If we have an emergency, a critical incident, or a lockdown, everyone receives the alert at the same time,” says Nearhood. “That eliminates delays, reduces confusion, and helps ensure the right people are responding immediately.”
Aiding investigations beyond school property
School cameras have also proven valuable beyond campus safety, occasionally supporting local law enforcement efforts. “Since several of our schools sit along main streets, our exterior cameras capture activity beyond school property,” explains Nearhood.
In one instance, police contacted the district about an incident that took place nearby outside of school hours. After receiving superintendent approval, Nearhood was able to locate and share relevant footage, helping support the investigation.
Financing security upgrades through grants
Convergint Technologies was instrumental in securing grant funding to ensure the school district could finance its security goals. “With our help, the district applied for and won a federal School Violence Protection Program grant,” shares Josiah Ward. “They were able to use the money for the new cameras and video door intercoms and other upgrades.”
But the project that resonated most with Ward was using the funds to mitigate risk at Mulvane’s elementary school. “The school shares space with a recreation center,” explains Ward. “We were able to secure both areas of the building to prevent public access to the elementary side.”
Making Mulvane schools and community safer
Nearhood continues to identify new opportunities to strengthen security across the district. “We now have a strong, scalable foundation with the Axis VMS and Secure Entry,” he says. “It gives us the flexibility to grow and adapt as our security needs evolve.”
Looking ahead, the district plans to expand coverage in key areas, including the middle school parking lot near a busy four-lane highway, as well as the newly turfed practice field and primary-grade playgrounds.
Through its ongoing partnership with Convergint, the district continues to explore ways to bring these improvements to life. “We’re always looking for funding opportunities for Mulvane,” says Josiah Ward. “Along with Axis, we see ourselves as partners in helping create safer, more secure environments for students and staff.”
