Danville Schools Integrated Access Solution

About

District-wide project delivers smarter key control

Danville Community School Corporation, which serves 2,200 students across Hendricks County near Indianapolis, had a patchwork key system that hindered staff access and raised safety concerns. Years of staff turnover left many high-level keys unaccounted for. By partnering with dormakaba, the district implemented an integrated access solution designed with student safety in mind. The project gave Danville a template for upcoming renovations while giving staff the immediate confidence that they can protect students throughout each school building.

Location: Danville, IN

Completion: 2025; phased implementation ongoing

Official website: www.danville.k12.in.us

Gallery

Challenges

How can schools reduce risk while simplifying access?

Staff turnover led to lost or untracked keys, compromising security
Grand master keys circulated widely
Teachers could not access classrooms outside their hallway for daily use or in emergencies
Decades-old mix of keys, cores, and locks across multiple facilities caused confusion and inefficiency
District growth and future renovations required standardization

“Safety is the foundation of every decision we make. Choosing this rekey project is an essential step to ensure the safest possible outcome. Potential threats are always present, and it’s our responsibility to take every step we can to prevent them.”

Richard Richard

Director of Facilities and Operations

Details

Rekey brings immediate impact with room to grow

Outdated system, urgent need

In an environment where K-12 schools face increasing threats, securing facilities is critical. Danville Schools relied on a fragmented system of BEST cores, with nearly 300 unique cores in the high school alone. Teachers were often unable to access other classrooms, workrooms, or restrooms on a typical day – a serious concern in an emergency. “When I handed teachers their keys for this school year, the relief on their faces said it all," Land said. “They knew wherever they went in the building, they could keep their students safe.”

Security takes a team

Two years before installation, dormakaba began working side by side with Danville to design and implement a modern key hierarchy. “Dependability is how we measure our partners, and dormakaba has been phenomenal. If they didn’t have an answer, they brought in someone who did,” Land said. dormakaba team members also showed up physically on site to assist with installation. To minimize disruption, the district adopted a phased rollout: three schools have been rekeyed so far, with the high school and new transportation building scheduled as construction progresses.

Solutions for growth

The project introduced BEST 9K Cylindrical Series locks – tested to more than 100 million cycles, far exceeding industry standards – as well as BEST 40H Mortise Series locks, keys and cores, exit devices, and closers. Keystone Web key management software enables the district to track assignments and ensure accountability. Standardizing specifications gave Danville a template for architects to follow, ensuring consistency as the district expands.