Gov. Henry McMaster outlines school safety improvements at ceremonial bill signing

GILBERT, SC (WOLO) — Preparing for an emergency can help prevent tragedy when danger actually occurs.

But how do you anticipate issues happening in schools?

“If our students and our teachers aren’t safe, nothing else matters,” said state superintendent of education Ellen Weaver. “If we want our students to achieve their full potential, they have to be able to concentrate on the classroom in front of them.”

To help keep students safe in the classroom, Governor Henry McMaster signed into law a bill that creates the Center for School Safety and Target Violence which will be located at the old Gilbert Elementary School. 

“The Center for School Safety and Targeted Violence will train personnel year round in a school environment,” said SLED chief Mark Keel. “That’s the advantage to having a facility like this. We can’t recreate this at the police academy or anywhere else.”

Currently almost 90 percent of schools in South Carolina have school resource officers.  In next year’s budget, the governor hopes to include funding to hire 175 additional school resource officers. 

“They serve more as just a defense to the school. Very often, they’re mentors, counselors or teachers,” said Robert Woods, South Carolina director of public safety. “They also serve as a bridge between the law enforcement community and children from underserved communities.”

The governor’s budget also includes $5 million set aside for school mapping and $20 million for safety upgrades. 

“All of the things we mentioned cost money and we’re going to spend the money,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “There’s nothing more important than what that sign says: Four Walls with Tomorrow Inside. That’s what these children are. We’re going to see to it that they’re educated.”

While students are trying to learn, Superintendent Weaver hopes to keep them safe from digital threats as well. 

“I have started a conversation with our local superintendents to understand how they are addressing the issue of cell phone use in schools,” Weaver said. “We know that cyberbullying and other things are happening on those personal devices. That is something we have to continue to address as we look at this critical issue of school safety.”