Carroll County Schools hosted its annual Safety Summit July 17 at the Carroll County Schools Performing Arts Center. School safety teams along with first responders from local public safety and health agencies reviewed emergency plans and discussed safety measures in preparation for the new school year. Teams from each school collaborated with first responders in tabletop exercises that encouraged them to think through their preparation and reaction to specific emergency and crisis situations.
Carroll County Schools launched the state’s first Safety Summit over a decade ago, introducing a concept that has been replicated in other communities across Georgia. The school system continues to be a leader in safety and has developed strong partnerships with the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County Fire Rescue, Tanner Health System, Carroll County Government and many other local municipalities and organizations focused on public health and safety.
“We are very proud of the legacy of collaboration that we have built with our community partners,” Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Glen Harding said. “You don’t have an event like this for 14 years without the help and support of a huge number of people who recognize the value of it and work to make it happen each year.”
After a kickoff that included Carroll County Commission Chair Michelle Morgan, Sheriff Terry Langley and school board chairman Kerry Miller, the opening session of the Summit included a presentation from Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Major Craig Dodson and Carroll County Schools Safety Coordinator Russell Grizzard to help schools understand swatting incidents – how they occur, warning signs, and tips for response.
Through partnerships with Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Whitesburg Police Department, Villa Rica Police Department, Temple Police Department and Mt. Zion Police Department, Carroll County Schools provides a total of 20 resource officers across the district, including two additional officers this year.
Harding said the summit sets the tone for the year.
“This is a crucial day,” he said. “But it’s only the start of the process each year. These teams take what they learn, go back to their schools and implement solutions. We use this training to make everyone at our schools better from administrators to teachers and parapros to cafeteria workers. School safety is everyone’s job.”
