The Greene County Board of Education held a work session, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 on School Safety Protocol. The board members along with Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones held a roundtable discussion with school principals and the system’s safety officer on all the element in place to assure the safety of students, school personnel and school premises. Each school has a safety plan.
Eutaw Primary School was represented by Principal Brittany Harris; Robert Brown Middle School by Assistant Principal Gary Rice; Greene County High School by Principal Andrea Perry; and the system’s Safety officer Rebecca Coleman. Ms. Coleman also presented the safety report for Teresa Atkins, Director of the Greene County Career Center.
The school administrators detailed the components of the safety plan at each school, indicating the following:
*Eutaw Primary has one resource officer who monitors the front driveway as buses arrive. Persons driving students to school must use the side entrance. Doors are locked at 7:48 am. All visitors must sign-in and get a visitor’s badge and sign-out. Monthly weather drills as well as shooter drills are conducted. There is a camera in the front office with 22 angels of the premises. Only the principal has access to the camera. Students are instructed to not open the front door for anyone.
*Robert Brown Middle has similar arrangements with resource officers; metal detectors at entrance; doors locked; visitors signing-in, cameras and monthly drills. Mr. Rice also noted that students are monitored in the halls at all times. Students must get a pass for restroom breaks. Administrators use two-way radios to communicate on the premises. Mr. Rice noted that fencing is needed around the school; lighting in the parking areas; improvements with the intercom system.
*Greene County High has resources officers; metal detectors; locked entrances, monthly drills and cameras. Students who drive to school must get a decal. Principal Perry noted that the lights in parking area need cleaning. Some doors need replacing. She said that the central office is notified when service personnel will be on campus.
*Career Center has monthly drills with posted drill routes. There is a new metal detector, but cameras are needed for blind spots. Front door needs fixing. Facility needs outside lights.
As Safety Officer, Ms. Rebecca Coleman offered the following recommendations to improve safety plans at each school: Cameras need professional cleaning; each school needs access cards to the building. These can work with the cameras. The Kirksey Center does not have a security monitoring system, except for the Federal Programs parental involvement area. She noted that her office is working on a digital Visitor ID System; ID badges for students and employees.
Resource Officer Davis corroborated the safety measures in place and noted that Resource Officers are available at schools until 6:00 pm. Additional officers are hired for sports events.
Davis said more signs should be posted stating that all school properties are Smoke Free, even at sports events.