Henry County School Board talks safety in wake of school shootings | Local News
On the heels of a tragic shooing at a Texas elementary university wherever an 18-year-outdated gunman killed 19 young children and two teachers, Henry County Faculty Board users expressed worry.
“We have got to make positive that they comprehend that if they see some thing, hear anything, examine a text, or know someone which is having difficulties, they can enable somebody know devoid of worry,” explained Horsepasture District Board Member Terri Flanagan at a normal board assembly Thursday early morning. “These children did not are entitled to this.”
Flanagan paused for a instant and then wiped a tear from her face.
“Remember to have them talk up due to the fact we, as mom and dad, can not keep them protected after they go to faculty,” Flanagan explained. “Convey to them that they will need to stage up and converse about these issues. It truly is a distinct entire world out there and we require to do a thing to adjust it.”
Superintendent Sandy Strayer stated basic safety at Henry County Public Colleges has usually been a precedence.
“A big element of this is associations,” Strayer claimed. “United Way supplies a hotline for students, and our resource officers spend time chatting with the college students and making interactions. You are not able to just walk in our properties we’re all about staying proactive.”
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Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Administrative Expert services David Scott walked up to the podium to tackle the board.
“Our protection committee fulfills every other month. Everyone’s operating alongside one another,” claimed Scott. “At just about every principal’s conference we converse basic safety. It is really the kind of matter that retains us up at night it’s all about getting informed.”
Strayer extra that all educational institutions in the district often practice the accepted crisis system.
“We debrief when we are finished,” claimed Scott. “We have a excellent relationship with our Sheriff’s Department and everyone is coming from various directions that offer safety. The point out calls for a setting up security assessment every single 3 several years, but we do it quarterly.”
Claimed Iriswood District Board Member Ben Gravely: “We are involved about the basic safety and welfare of our teachers and pupils. I hope everyone watches this meeting and learns about the actions we are using for protection in our schools.”
“The most cherished thing to a mum or dad is their kid,” Strayer explained. “I’m going to take care of that kid like they’re mine. We have to insure their safety.”
In the meantime, in Uvalde, Texas, investigators proceed to unravel the particulars of the massacre that lasted about 40 minutes and finished when a Border Patrol crew killed the shooter.
All of the children that had been killed ended up in the exact classroom.
Robb Elementary, the college where by the taking pictures occurred, has nearly 600 students. By comparison, Henry County has nine elementary educational facilities that range in membership from 210 at Sanville Elementary to 592 at Meadow Watch Elementary.
In other issues, the Board:
- Authorised $326,025.81 in believed Title II, Element A funding. These resources are accessible to aid neighborhood schooling reform attempts that are steady with statewide education and learning reform efforts.
- Authorised $43,878.82 in believed Title III, Part A funding to be utilised to assist the faculty division in meeting the demands of the Just about every College student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Cash are applied to health supplement the English Language educational plan.
- Approved $182,399.02 in Title IV, Section A estimated funding to be made use of to aid the college system in meeting the normal needs of ESSA.
- Authorized $171,117.33 in Title V money selected for rural-small cash flow college districts. The dollars is used to support the Henry County General public Schools tutorial software.
- Authorised $4,000 each for each Bassett and Magna Vista higher universities for dues and affiliation costs to the Virginia Superior College League. Membership incorporates catastrophic coverage protection for all taking part athletes.
- Approved $318,934 to VACORP for home and casualty insurance coverage.
- Authorised $2,538,267.66 in Title I, Part A funding pending approval from the Virginia Office of Instruction. The money are employed to assistance the elementary instructional program.
- Accepted revisions to the scholar code of perform. At the previous college board conference, revised gown standards and personalized electronic machine polices ended up introduced with no major changes. The advice will be involved in the university student handbook designed readily available to mothers and fathers and students for the forthcoming school calendar year.
- Authorised the athletics and routines handbook reflecting modifications prompt by coaches, athletic administrators and building administrators. Revisions mainly extra clarity with no significant variations to guidelines.
- Accepted $42,732 to PortionPac Chemical Corporation for sanitation and safety expert services to the cafeterias.
- Permitted $410,000 to United Dairy, Inc. of Roanoke to offer dairy solutions to the cafeterias.
- Accepted $147,375 to Kirby Greer Enterprises, LLC dba Cunningham Tire of Bassett for new steer tires and and Jimmy’s Retreading of Collinsville for recapped tires and mounting.
- Accredited an worker bonus of $1,200 for all suitable comprehensive-time and portion-time workforce. The reward does not include things like workforce solely for athletics, extracurricular things to do, or substitute positions. The overall expense for the bonus is approximated to be $1,493,041 and is scheduled to be compensated out on June 15.
- Authorized an further appropriation for the Unique Grants Category because of to $102,579 in additional funding to be received from the Virginia Division of Schooling as aspect of the College students with Intensive Help Desires Grant.
- Watched a online video of the superintendent’s month-to-month report offered by Communications Director Monica Hatchett. The superintendent’s report mirrored a overall enrollment in the district of 6,720 in Might, down from 6,744 in April and down from 6,787 just one yr back.
Monthly bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be achieved at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Stick to him @billdwyatt.