By pressing a large orange button on the radio, school staffers would be in touch with 911 dispatchers.

”It’s not always possible to put a deputy or police officer in all the schools, but we do need to to take the initiative and provide tools that will enhance our response to a critical need to protect our school children,” Stubbs said.

Six of the radios have already been purchased. Stubbs said about 11 more are needed.

The Calhoun County Foundation has donated $6,000 to pay for radios to be placed in the Manson Northwest Webster Junior-Senior High School and the Farnhamville Elementary School.

”I’m pretty happy with that,” Stubbs said.

He hopes to have all of the radios in the schools by the middle of this year.

The radios are formally known as the School Emergency Alert Radio System. They are designed to sit on a desk or a table, and except for the big orange button they look much like any other two-way radio.

When the big orange button is pressed, a tone sounds at all the dispatch consoles in the Webster County Telecommunications Center. Then a radio link is opened between the school and the dispatchers. Stubbs said there will be an open microphone for 20 seconds and the dispatchers can hear what is going on near the radio. School personnel can then tell the dispatchers what is happening. If they can’t talk, the dispatchers will be able to hear any commotion going on in the school.

Stubbs said an active shooter situation may be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the need for the radios, but they can be used to summon help for medical emergencies and situations like out-of-control students.

How to help

Donations are being accepted to help pay for the School Emergency Alert Radio System.

Checks can be sent to the Webster County Sheriff’s office, 702 First Ave. S., Fort Dodge, IA 50501. Please write school radios on the memo line of the check.