Columbia County School District addressing safety concerns at “Let’s Talk” forum
GROVETOWN, Ga. (WJBF) – The Columbia County School District held a "Let's Talk" forum Thursday night at Grovetown High School for parents and students.
School district leaders covered multiple topics at the forum – and afterwards, parents were able to ask some hard hitting questions about their students' safety.
Leaders say there have been about 25 letters sent to Columbia County parents about threats and rumors of threats, and 11 students arrested since the Apalachee High school shooting.
One Columbia Middle School parent worries about her child's safety after a threat was allegedly made in her class. She claims the student who made the threat is back in school
"She went to the board of education the next day with me and said 'I do not feel safe in class anymore.' That is a problem. What can we do as a whole, as parents to knock this out?" said Christine Winning.
School board leaders said they have a thorough investigation process for threats, and when deciding if a child goes to alternative school or not.
"We want to make sure we're doing everything possible at the school level to take every threat seriously, which we do. We leave no stone unturned to find out and get to the root of the matter," said Penny Jackson, the Associate Superintendent. "And then when we do that, we involve our SRO's when needed and certainly make sure that juvenile court is contacted if it gets to that point, and then we follow through with consequences."
Other concerns brought forth were training for substitute teachers in case of an emergency.
"I have been substituting in the schools for over three years, I have friends who are subs who have also not received this training," one attendee said.
"Substitutes get that training when they're hired, and then in the individual classrooms, there are plans that address what our processes are. We will make sure each school is communicating that properly," Jackson said.
The panelists expanded on the recent school threats and what role the internet plays, and also addressed topics like bullying, drugs and gangs.
Jackson also commented on the Thursday morning death of 15-year-old Greenbrier High student Gordon Carmichael.
"Such a tragedy and our hearts go out the parents, the students, the faculty," she said. "It was a very sad day at Greenbrier High School today and we will continue to offer that support for those students, staff, parents and community at Greenbrier."
The next "Let's Talk" forum is in November. The date has not been set yet.
