CCS stakeholders seem to believe local schools safe

Jun. 8—LENOIR — "Run. Hide. Fight." is the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) empowering recommendation on how to respond to an active shooter, a stark transition from the hide and cover practices that teachers were once directed to follow.

The transition came after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that occurred in 2012. Since then, FBI, law enforcement agencies (LEA), emergency management services, and schools have honed their response to an active shooter crisis.

"School safety needs to be a top priority to our county. Our kids are our future. They deserve to go to school and not have to worry about a gunman showing up on campus," said Courtney Woods in a News-Topic Facebook post.

The recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas has renewed calls for change in gun laws while again illustrating just how vulnerable children can be while at school and where they are expected to be safe from harm.

According to Jeff Church, associate superintendent of auxiliary services of Caldwell County Schools, ensuring student safety is priority.

"We focus on safety all day long, everyday," said Church. "Our district does take safety very seriously and it is at the forefront of our minds every single day."

According to the 2022 Teacher Working Conditions Survey (TWCS), the majority (93.42%) of Caldwell County teachers feel that they work in a safe school environment, which is slightly higher than the average response (88.50%) from teachers across the state.

"I feel very safe here. We always make sure that the doors are locked," said Abbey Parsons, second-grade teacher at Collettsville School. "It's just a really safe environment."

The 2022 Panorama student survey indicated that 77% of students in the district almost always, or frequently feel safe at school, according to Jill Pippin, principal at Collettsville School.

Rileigh Bowman, a seventh grader at Collettsville School, said she felt safe at school.

Liam Pannenbacker, fourth grader, said he feels safe at school because the doors are always locked and no one has the keys.

According to Church, the district mandates emergency and safety training each year, including active shooter response. Employees are trained and are equipped with the crisis plan. CCS teachers agree (97.60%) their school provides effective and on-going training in safety procedures to staff including lockdown training or fire drills), according to the TWCS. This is higher than the state's average of 92.88%.

"All of our teachers have our emergency/crisis management plans," said Pippin. "They all have the evacuation routes posted in the rooms, and we have one in the office."

In addition, CCS teachers agree (98.32%) that faculty at their specific school know what to do if there is an emergency, natural disaster, or a dangerous situation, and the majority (97.60%) concur that that faculty receive effective and continual education in safety procedures, based on the survey.

Each school has an assigned School Resource Officers (SRO), which provides teachers and students a level of security.

Tonia Bowman, kindergarten teacher, said she feels safe at her school.

"We have an SRO that is here and she does a lot of patrolling. If we're in the cafeteria, she's in the cafeteria. If we're on the playground, she's on the playground with us, so that has made a big difference," said Bowman. "We always check and make sure the doors are locked and we do our drills."

Blake Russell, seventh grader, said the presence of the SRO makes him feel secure at school.

Schools provide layered security, which includes double-locked entry, secured doors, secured classrooms, cameras, and mirrored or blackened windows. All faculty and staff ensure doors remain closed and locked and no one is supposed to be permitted into the school without passing through the front entrance.

"Specifically speaking about the Gamewell Schools and WCHS [West Caldwell High School], the security upgrades they did a few years ago are great," stated Linda Ann in a News-Topic Facebook post. "You can't get into the elementary school unless you're buzzed in after being seen on camera."

"WCHS partitioned off the entrance hall so you have to go through the office first and show ID," continued Linda. "It would be a good idea to have someone in the office (not just students) ALL the time. There should always be a resource officer near the doors. If ALL schools in Caldwell aren't taking these precautions, they should be."

Church said they take all threats made toward the schools seriously. Students who make threats toward the school may face criminal prosecution

Other safety measures include running background checks on faculty, staff, and volunteers.

"My daughter attends Granite Falls Elementary and I have been very happy with the way you have to have a background check before being able to volunteer, I love how I always see a front office staff member when signing out my daughter, doors are usually locked when trying to get into the school at all entrances from what I have seen," stated Deah Hilton Swanson in a News-Topic Facebook post

Caldwell County Schools ensures a safe environment by keeping schools weapon free. The majority of the teachers (92.57%) indicated that student possession of weapons rarely occurs within the district, based on the TWCS. According to Church, CCS confiscated 24 weapons during the 2021-2022 school year, that's less than 1% (.02%).

Students also receive a high level of supervision and are escorted as they move from one location to another.

"The higher the supervision, the better it is the whole way around," said Pippin, talking about how teachers escort students to various locations in and around the building.

Part of being safety focused is maintaining the security of specific details of the crisis response plan.

Despite the efforts, there are weaknesses in the system.

"I'm honestly not thrilled with how easy it is for me to be able to walk into my child's elementary school... especially when there are events that parents are attending," stated Christi Coffey in a News-Topic Facebook post. "I was able to sign my child out one day without even seeing an adult."

Several people who posted on the News-Topic Facebook page noted that even though SROs are assigned to schools, that is not always evident that they are present.

"But, I do not ever see a resource officer there. I have seen one only at the front entrance directing traffic some mornings but not one at the back entrance and not one there during the day at all. It would make me feel like my daughter is much safer if we could get a resource officer or guard on site every day if possible," continued Swanson in a News-Topic Facebook post.

Church said two areas they plan to continue to work on is diligence and keeping buildings and facilities up-to-date.

Diligence includes reinforcing how imperative it is to keep doors shut and locked and not to let anyone in the facility and reporting any possible issues.

"All it takes is one person to go out and prop the door open and it's not secure anymore," said Church, talking how everyone must make sure that the safety measures are enforced.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to report any damaged locks, doors, windows, etc. and once reported — work orders are processed to ensure timely response.

"Each school has physical plans for infrastructure and maintenance issues that arise," said Church. "We have a work order system and we have a maintenance department to come and take care of those."

In the event of emergency situations that may require a lockdown, even without an imminent threat of danger, some teachers are prepared to provide a level of security to address physical needs, such as having basic supplies on hand like drinks and snacks. One teacher reportedly keeps suckers on hand to help soothe students.

"We've got a partnership going with The Coves and every month they donate classroom snacks," said Pippin.

Others shared their thoughts on safety in Caldwell County Schools and shared their recommendations on the News-Topic Facebook page.

"Every School should have Metal Detectors and a Armed Guard or two. You should have to give your License thru a bullet proof glass and state why you are there before you can enter. Kids safety is nothing to play around with," stated Rebecca Allen Shull in a post.

"I think all doors be locked and parents or guardians have to know a code or lunch number to even get in the school period. If they would install cameras outside the door with auto office on site as well," posted Beveryl Ann Brookshire.

"Use our tax dollars to protect the children, hire armed military vets to patrol our schools and protect the children. They are more than qualified and have the training and the ability to act quickly. Many of them have already offered and volunteered to and are more than happy to do this, but have been told 'no' by school boards across this state," stated Regina Mann in a News-Topic Facebook post.

CCS Superintendent Don Phipps talked about the district's efforts to remain vigilant to ensure safe schools.

"Safety is an ever-present concern for everyone involved in education. We are constantly working to understand and manage risks," he said. "Our goal is to be proactive in this work. We appreciate the support of law enforcement and other partners throughout our communities.

"Unfortunately, the responses often create operational hardships (reduced numbers at events, long lines, delays, etc), but we hope that all stakeholders understand this and accept it as a cost of promoting/providing safety," he added. "If there are ideas that can promote safety, please share them with us as we remain vigilant in our efforts."