Tazewell County ETSB Advances Landmark School Safety Initiative

TAZEWELL COUNTY, IL - Tazewell County Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) is nearing completion of a comprehensive countywide initiative to map the interiors of all K-12 facilities, providing first responders with unprecedented wall-to-wall visibility. Leveraging the Illinois NG9-1-1 grant for public school buildings, the county has nearly completed mapping of all public schools. With the final public school and a planned expansion into private facilities slated for completion this summer, Tazewell County is on track to provide dispatchers and emergency crews with mission-critical indoor context for every classroom in the county.

The Challenge: Mapping Without Administrative Strain

Tazewell County encompasses approximately 140 public school buildings across multiple districts, each with unique security protocols and schedules. Traditional indoor mapping processes can require school staff to spend hours locating architectural blueprints and escorting technicians through buildings - a significant logistical hurdle for busy districts. The goal for Tazewell County ETSB and its partner, Cloudpoint Geospatial, was to achieve complete countywide coverage with spatially accurate Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data, using a workflow that minimized the burden on school personnel and local resources.

“As an administrator, student safety is always at the forefront of our focus, but our staff is already stretched thin,” said Karen Beverlin, Assistant Superintendent. “I was impressed that Cloudpoint could complete such a comprehensive project with minimal impact on our daily operations. They didn't need us to rely on old floor plans; they came in, did the work professionally, and gave us a vital resource that enhances our campus security.”

Operational Methodology: Independent Field Verification

Unlike alternative workflows that rely on school-provided plans, Cloudpoint utilized a "field-first" methodology. By deploying trained crews to perform on-site verification and high-accuracy scanning, Cloudpoint eliminated the need for school districts to rely on outdated paper maps or perform their own quality checks on the final data.

Results that Save Minutes

The project resulted in two primary deliverables: spatially accurate digital mapping layers for integration into ETSB software and high-quality "Map Books" for non-GIS users. These tools ensure that when a 9-1-1 call comes from a school, dispatchers can see the exact room, door swing, and hallway layout instantly.

"Providing our dispatchers and first responders with accurate, indoor layouts is a game-changer for emergency response times. As school safety continues to be a national concern, we are excited to provide every opportunity to protect our communities and especially our children in our public schools," said Mike McIntyre, Director of Tazewell County ETSB

About Cloudpoint Geospatial

Cloudpoint is a dynamic geospatial solutions provider located in Metamora, Illinois, with a niche focus on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services. We are a proud Esri Business Partner serving local government, infrastructure, public safety, and campus facilities clients nationwide with our technical expertise, enabling organizations to make informed, data-driven decisions. Cloudpoint provides turnkey solutions that make communities safer.