Students are headed back to school in New Hanover County, NC, on August 26th. This year parents and students will notice a new security system has been installed using audio and video to better screen who can gain access to school facilities.

According to the information released by the New Hanover County School System, "The new system allows the district to better control entry, security, and regulate access into buildings. Schools will be able to keep the facility secure while communicating with school visitors and confirming their identity using both audio and video."

The Ai Phones will be installed through American Detection Systems, Inc. The cost for the equipment and installation totals $128,564.

Eddie Anderson, Director of Facility Planning and Construction for New Hanover County Schools, explained to the Carolina Beach Town Council at their July meeting, "We are looking at safety and security very strongly. When people go to schools in August, the first thing they are going to notice is they are not able to walk in the front door of New Hanover County schools anymore. There’s a video intercom system that allows the receptionist to actually talk to you, find out who you are and why you are there and then buzz you in."

He explained, "This would also increase cameras. There are only a handful of schools that actually have cameras. Those systems are outdated. This would replace those systems and expand our camera coverage throughout the district.”