The Carroll ISD board of trustees approved March 4 the purchase of a districtwide severe weather alert system valued at approximately $211,000 total, including three years of annual service costs. The system would improve safety by providing weather alerts to athletes, attendants of outdoor games, students at recess and others who use CISD school facilities. Vendor Perry Weather will provide 13 alert units, equipment, installation services and a 3-year software license, according to agenda documents. Installing units between adjacent schools, CISD would be able to cover all 11 campuses, Dragon Stadium, the administration building and the old Carroll Intermediate School, which is now the location of Southlake Baptist Church. If set off by severe weather events, the units' horns will sound, and strobe lights will flash to alert the public, said Matt Miller, assistant superintendent for administrative services. Once it is safe, the horns will blast three times, and the strobe lights will stop flashing. Only then will students be able to return to activities. The system will be operational most days from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. or 10 p.m., according to a draft of the system schedules. Hours will be extended to midnight on Thursday and Friday nights at Dragon Stadium due to events, and the horns near the old Carroll Intermediate School will be off on Sunday to accommodate church services and events, Miller said. “All these [units] would be put in place with full intention of [directing] less sound headed towards homes,” Miller said. “We would obviously take that consideration at every location we would place one.” A mobile app would also be available to CISD administrators and staff, providing them access to real-time weather information, said Julie Thannum, assistant superintendent for board and community relations. Perry will also provide two weather stations to monitor heat index, humidity and precipitation, which will be beneficial for athletic trainers, Miller said. Staff also presented the board with an alternative option to install eight units to cover its intermediate, middle and high schools, as well as three different sports fields and stadiums for nearly $145,000. Trustee Michelle Moore said she is more in favor of the alternative option and adding more warning system units at additional schools in the future as needed. “I think it would be great to gradually introduce this,” she said. “I think the need is great at all of the facilities where we have sporting events and practices. … I think our elementary school administrators do an amazing job, and they’re not going to have the kids go out when the weather is iffy.” In response, trustees Matt Bryant and Todd Carlton both spoke in favor of the 13 units per staff recommendation. There are many residents who use the playgrounds and walk to and from the elementary schools that may benefit from these warning systems, Carlton said. It could present a potential risk if such a warning system is not placed there. The board approved the $211,000 project with a 6-1 vote. Staff will be installing the units in two weeks, Miller said.