MDI takes over ownership of Learn Safe

SAN ANTONIO--Effective July 11, command-and-control software maker MDI now owns the "Safe Initiatives" brand portfolio, formerly owned by Stratis Authority, which is the single largest investor in MDI. MDI will now discontinue the use of the Stratis name, and move all "Safe Initiatives" operations, formerly housed in Miami, to its own headquarters here. Terms of the transaction have not yet been released. Most notably, MDI now has full control of the Learn Safe (Work Safe, Play Safe, and Live Safe are less developed, but in the pipeline) initiative, for which it was previously the point entity for physical security (search "MDI and LearnSafe" at www.securitysystemsnews.com) and which has won a number of contracts to provide all-inclusive security systems for school districts in Texas and other southern states. The initiative provides electronic security systems, but also includes such services as background screening, psychological profiling, manned guarding and IT security for educational entities both public and private. The acquisition of the "Safe Initiatives" also includes the unique funding model by which Learn Safe effectively "gives" the security systems to schools: The schools outsource their payroll and benefits services to an MDI-controlled professional employer organization, or PEO. The profit the PEO makes in handling those duties for the school districts allows MDI to provide the security systems and services. Also as part of the transaction, James Vandevere, chief executive director of Stratis Authority, resigned from the MDI board of directors. He was also a major stockholder in MDI. It is not yet known if he retains ownership of that stock. For more on the MDI transaction, see the September issue of Security Systems News and check back at www.securitysystemsnews.com.