Fort Bend ISD began installing a wearable panic-button system across all district campuses Oct. 6, giving teachers and staff a one-press way to summon help during emergencies.
The district is deploying the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, a four-part system, according to the district's announcement. It includes wearable alert badges, digital campus maps for first responders, a student hall-pass tracker and a tool to reunite students with parents after emergencies.
The rollout covers FBISD campuses districtwide, which includes Ridge Point, Elkins and Marshall high schools and dozens of other schools serving Missouri City and Stafford families.
How it works
The system's core is CrisisAlert, a badge worn by employees that triggers two levels of response, according to CENTEGIX's product description. A staff-level alert notifies local administrators of everyday incidents such as medical emergencies or unauthorized visitors. A campus-wide alert contacts 911 dispatch and activates strobe lights, intercom announcements and computer-screen takeovers across the building.
The platform also sends first responders a digital map pinpointing the alert's exact floor and room. It runs on a private network and does not require Wi-Fi or cell service.
Families may notice new strobe devices appearing in classrooms and hallways as crews complete the installation, the district said. Work is taking place during evenings and other non-instructional times to avoid disrupting classes.
State law requires silent panic alerts
Separately, Texas Senate Bill 838 requires every school district to provide silent panic alert technology in each classroom, effective with the 2025-2026 school year. The law requires the technology to allow immediate contact with law enforcement, emergency services, health departments and fire departments. The FBISD announcement does not reference the state mandate.
Texas is one of 13 states that now mandate or allow schools to use wearable or silent panic alarms, Stateline reported Sept. 2. Ten of those states acted since 2023.
A CENTEGIX report cited by Stateline found that 88% of more than 346,000 alerts generated by its systems during the 2025-2026 school year involved everyday issues such as fights and students leaving campus. Ten percent were medical emergencies. Two percent involved suspicious behavior or a campus-wide emergency.
What's still unknown
FBISD has not disclosed the system's cost. A campus-by-campus installation timeline is also unavailable. The district said it will share additional information as the rollout progresses.
The district has not announced training schedules for staff or information sessions for parents.
