Greenville County Schools, the largest school system in South Carolina, is grappling with a new security measure that has sparked concern among parents. The Raptor Alert badges, designed to enhance safety and emergency communication, have inadvertently caused false alarms, raising questions about their effectiveness. While the badges are meant to alert everyone in the building to potential emergencies, from a child running away to a school-wide lockdown, the unintended consequences have been a source of worry. As of November 2025, there were 131 accidental lockdown emergencies, with 27 instances where users intentionally or excessively pushed the badge. This delay, however, is crucial for confirming the intent behind the alarm, as pushing the badge three times for an elopement results in a four-second delay before the alarm starts beeping and the light begins flashing. Principal Heather Dye emphasized the need for teachers to adapt to the new system, citing an instance where a teacher accidentally triggered the badge while washing hands. Greenville County Schools is in constant communication with Raptor to address badge design and programming issues, exploring short-term solutions like protective cases to prevent accidental activations. Despite the challenges, Dye assured parents that the communication device is vital for responding to real threats or dangers, referencing a tragic incident in September 2024 when 8-year-old Lionel Cervantes escaped his classroom and drowned in a nearby pond. Data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act shows a decrease in false alarms, with nine per week in November compared to 16 in August. Dye believes that drills and false alarms have prepared everyone, from the smallest student to the most experienced teacher, emphasizing the importance of knowing the appropriate response in an emergency. 'Seconds matter, that's how many lives could be saved. You know, and that's priceless,' said Dye. After an investigation, the Greenville County School District confirmed that Raptor identified an issue with the badge contributing to false alarms and is working on both short- and long-term solutions. The district stated that Raptor is providing protective cases to help address the problem.
