SJSD upgrades intercoms system for safer classrooms 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph School District installed a new intercom system throughout the district as a part of the 2024 bond project.  

SJSD installed a brand new intercom system in every building before the start of the 2025-26 school year.

The upgrade swaps out the old intercoms for modern IP clocks, speakers, call buttons and even LED flashers — all designed to make communication clearer and keep classrooms safer.  

Amanda Ueligger, Parkway Elementary School principal, said having the intercom system has made daily communication smoother and more reliable. 

“Parkway was one of the first buildings to get the new intercom system. The feature of being able to prerecord the announcements has been a big timesaver for me in the mornings," Ueligger said.  

The new system doesn’t just handle morning announcements, it also doubles as an emergency management tool for every school in the district, and allows for direct communication with local law enforcement.

“The speakers used to just be in the rooms but we have them stationed outside, in the front and in the back of the building, so students arriving or maybe outside during recess or if we have an emergency or assembly, it's beneficial that way,” Ueligger said.  

The project was part of the 2024 No Tax Increase Bond, with installations starting over spring break earlier this year with test sites at Parkway and Pickett elementaries. 

“From the safety aspect, it's knowing that we have an emergency management in place that schools can go on lockdown, get outside in case of a fire and know what’s going on,” said Jake Kelly, director of technology at SJSD.  

Kelly said if Parkway ever has to go into lockdown, nearby schools like Truman Middle School or Mark Twain Elementary School are instantly alerted, giving staff and officials time to take safety precautions.  

On top of safety, the system even has some fun features. Around the holidays, the clocks can change colors and music can play over the speakers.  

“The previous intercom system we had in the building was 30 years old, and it wasn’t connected to our network and didn’t allow a lot of flexibility, or for us to monitor (it) at a district level,” Kelly said.  

The school district is finalizing the emergency management piece and expects it to be ready by mid-October.