Learn Before You Buy
Vendor-neutral guides, funding playbooks, and evaluation templates -- so you can make a confident decision on your timeline.
Funding & Procurement
ESSER Is Gone. Here’s How Districts Are Funding Security in 2026.
Federal ESSER funds expired in September 2025. Here’s what replaced them — and the 5 funding sources smart districts are using right now.
How Minnesota Districts Are Funding School Security in 2026
Safe Schools Levy, SVPP grants, LTFM expansion, and Sourcewell — mapped to your district.
How Michigan Districts Are Funding School Security in 2026
The $321M 31a allocation, the waiver controversy, Section 97c assessments, and ISD coordination.
5 Federal Grants That Can Fund AI Video Security for K-12
SVPP, BJA STOP, HSGP, NSGP, and E-Rate Category 2 — what’s eligible, how to stack them.
State Bond & Grant Playbook for Campus Safety
How to identify, apply for, and win state-level bonds and grants for physical security upgrades.
Can E-Rate Fund Security Cameras? What the Rules Actually Say
A clear breakdown of E-Rate eligibility for video surveillance, networking infrastructure, and related safety tech.
Evaluating Vendors
The Buyer’s Guide to AI Video Security
What to look for, what to avoid, and how to evaluate AI-powered camera systems — whether you choose Coram or not.
What to Expect from a Video Security Pilot
How to scope it, what to measure, red flags to watch for, and how to present results to decision-makers.
Camera Audit Checklist: Assess Your Current System
A printable checklist to evaluate your existing camera coverage, storage, and analytics gaps.
Build vs. Buy: VMS, NVR, and Cloud Compared
An honest comparison of on-prem NVRs, traditional VMS platforms, and cloud-native systems.
How Coram Compares: TCO, Features & Honest Trade-Offs
Year 1 and 3-year cost comparison across Coram, Verkada, Genetec, and Milestone — plus a feature table and the costs nobody puts in the proposal.
Getting It Approved
The 5 Questions Your Board Will Ask About AI Surveillance
Privacy. Cost. Effectiveness. Risk. Timing. Here’s how peer districts answered each one.
Build Your Business Case: The 1-Page Template
The document your champion needs to sell this internally. Fill-in-the-blank framework.
RFP Template: Video Security System
A copy-paste RFP template with the right questions to ask any vendor, including scoring criteria.
Pilot Evaluation Scorecard
A structured scorecard to objectively compare vendor pilots across reliability, ease-of-use, support, and total cost.
Still have questions?
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