Pittsford Schools are undergoing sweeping new security measures, including the addition of an "emergency button."

The buttons were installed in all the school buildings in the district over the holiday break. They're a bit like a high-tech fire alarm. Students or anyone in the school can push the button and it will automatically contact 911 to alert emergency responders.

It's part of an overall effort to keep the schools more secure and the students safe. The district released a video to help the community understand the system and how it will be phased in.

"When an emergency alert button is pressed, the following will occur automatically and simultaneously. A call to 911 to alert emergency responders, which automatically allows the operator to hear what's happening in the room, a PA announcement of a lockdown, a visual alert to building computer screens, as well as building and classroom telephones and text and email alerts to a building's incident management team and district administration," said Superintendent Michael Pero. "We have added an office alert button to our telephones, our users to contact the main office through an open channel in situations where assistance is needed. We also transitioned to smart card badge technology, which deters the copying of procs cards which allow entrance into our buildings.

The goal of this new emergency alert system is to decrease first responder response time in the event of an emergency and to notify building staff and first responders as quickly as possible.

It's being phased in right now and school staff and students will be learning more about this new effort and how it works.

The new security measures are being added at a time when several local schools have gone through lockdowns after receiving threats.