COASTAL OBSERVER

The Georgetown County School Board’s safety committee found six areas it thinks need improvement. Two were on track before the committee delivered its report to the full board this week.

“There were much more strength and no weaknesses. The weaknesses to me are just things we can improve on,” Board Member Robert Cox said. He chaired the committee that was formed in April.

One area was training on scanners and doors. The district conducted door safety training with administrators last week and has training scheduled next week on its Open Gate system, which scans people who enter the schools each day.

The committee asked Superintendent Bethany Giles and her staff to create a timetable for addressing the other issues, which include after-school events, specifically tailgating on school grounds. 

Tailgating guidelines drew pushback from members of the Georgetown High School Alumni Association at this week’s school board meeting.

“What’s troubling is that this conversation has moved forward without any communication or input from the alumni association,” said Jessie Walker, an association member.

“This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about community empowerment,” said Shiquanna Knowland, a 2004 Georgetown High graduate.

Giles presented guidelines to improve safety measures for homecoming activities including tailgates and parades, which one member from the alumni association called “evasive.” The rules are in addition to existing school district policies, including a volume limit on music. Giles said she received feedback that the limit conflicted with students performing and competing.

Cox said he was all for tailgating as long as it’s done “in a civil manner.”

“We never, at any time, ever said we were going to get rid of tailgating,” Cox said. “As you saw tonight, our staff is already writing and has improved the tailgating procedures and policies.”

A violation of the guidelines can result in criminal charges, removal from the property and future bans to schools in the district.

As part of the safety initiative, the district is also evaluating vendors to replace over 700 radios. 

“Without communication in the time of a crisis, you can find yourself in big trouble,” Cox said.

The use of electronic cigarettes among students has been a concern for the board and Giles, who presented a vape-free initiative to combat the issue.

In addition, the committee also wanted to see action creating a uniform policy for monitoring bathrooms because that’s where bullying and vaping occurs. 

The board is considering a district-wide policy requiring clear book bags and drinking bottles. Carvers Bay High School made a clear bag optional last year with the goal of making it mandatory in the future. Waccamaw Middle School has a similar policy for water bottles.

“It’s to be able to see what our children are bringing into our schools,” Cox said. “I’m looking for weapons, that’s one. We’re looking for things like vapes and other things.”

With students returning on Aug. 1, it’s too late to create a district-wide policy this year, so Giles suggested easing into it after she gathers more input.

“This would not be a goal to implement in the next two weeks,” she said. “We know that parents have already started purchasing supplies.”

“This is not the end. This is just the beginning of making our schools more safe for our children,” Cox said.