Superintendent to unveil new security plan after Prattville High student arrested with gun
PRATTVILLE – The superintendent of Autauga County Schools planned to present a new security plan to the school board Thursday, a day after a Prattville High School student was arrested after being found with a gun.
The gun was found in an unrelated search, said Superintendent Lyman Woodfin. A Prattville Police Department school resource officer was in the room at the time of the search, he said.
“The gun was found and immediately secured and the situation was under control,” Woodfin said. “That’s why there was no lockdown. Everything went according to our plans. The cooperation between the high school’s administration and the SRO was impeccable.
“We are going to have good relationships with the Prattville Police Department and Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. Our primary concern is the safety of our students and staff, and local law enforcement are key in that process.”
Near the end of the last academic year, a gun was found at Prattville Junior High and Prattville High School. The incidents were within about two weeks of one another.
Woodfin said he will present a security plan to the board at a Thursday afternoon budget meeting. He declined to give specifics on his security plan until the board had a chance to review them.
The board was considering the idea of mandatory book bags at the junior high and high schools. After a series of meetings, the book bag policy was shelved.
“The idea of clear backpacks seemed to be a fairly straightforward policy, but the benefits of such a policy were going to be negligible due to necessary exemptions for items such as sports equipment bags, band instrument cases, lunch boxes, personal hygiene products, etc.,” said Rebecca Thomas, spokeswoman for the school system. “After several meetings with school administrators, the decision was made to focus efforts on more effective security measures providing tangible solutions to address stakeholders' concerns, not just approving a policy to be shelved with little to no real impact.”
The board wants to use technology, like metal detectors, in security plans.
“Grant funding is also providing for upgrades to security cameras, intercoms, and telephone systems,” Thomas said. “In addition to these capital investments, the district's Code of Conduct was revised to include a new classification for major offenses which includes a non-tolerance expulsion option following proper protocols.”
The prior gun incidents at Prattville junior high and high schools, and board action on a security plan, took place before Woodfin was appointed by the board as superintendent. He came to the schools chief job from his post as principal at Marbury High School.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Gun found at Prattville High raises security concerns
