The Johnstown-Monroe Local School District recently installed a new AI-powered security system that uses facial recognition and real-time alerts.
JOHNSTOWN, Ohio — A central Ohio school district is now using artificial intelligence to help keep students and staff safe — and it’s a system that may feel like something out of a science fiction movie.
The Johnstown-Monroe Local School District recently installed a new AI-powered security system that uses facial recognition and real-time alerts to monitor who is entering school buildings and facilities.
The upgraded Verkada system replaced about 400 traditional cameras over the summer. The previous system operated similarly to consumer-grade, motion-activated cameras. The new cameras record continuously, allowing for faster and more accurate incident response.
“It’s really the AI that is the value add for us,” said Dr. Philip Wagner, superintendent of Johnstown-Monroe Schools. “It’s the search functions. It’s the ability to anticipate.”
Administrators are able to input photos of individuals who are not permitted on campus. If the system detects that person approaching a building, it immediately sends an alert to staff members’ phones.
According to Derick Busenburg, the district’s director of operations, the technology is highly sensitive.
“It’s so sophisticated and sensitive we’ve actually had it send alerts when people are holding a picture of someone,” Busenburg said. “The camera sees that, recognizes that and sends us an alert.”
During a test for 10TV, the system triggered an alert as soon as a photo of reporter Lacey Crisp was uploaded and she approached the building.
The software can also search by clothing or object description. If someone reports an incident involving a person wearing specific colors or carrying a particular item, the AI can scan recent footage and identify matches instantly.
“If we know there’s an incident with maybe an adult wearing a black shirt and white pants, we can search for that,” Busenburg said. “It will immediately pull up any people we’ve had on our campus fitting that description in the last 30 days.”
The goal is to reduce the time it takes to investigate reports and respond to threats on campus — part of the district’s broader safety strategy.
“Anything we can do from a safety standpoint,” Wagner said. “This technology is one tool, but we understand this is not the only tool.”
District officials emphasized that while the new system offers advanced capabilities, it doesn’t replace relationships with law enforcement or the importance of community reporting. Johnstown-Monroe Schools continue to work closely with the local police department and encourage students and staff to speak up about suspicious behavior.
“This is anything we can do to try and protect people in the environment — that’s students, staff and the community,” Wagner said.
The system went live about a month ago. The total cost was approximately $120,000, partially offset by selling the older equipment. So far, the district reports minimal parent feedback.
