Cobb Schools Reinforce Security Plans

Cobb County School District officials spent a busy weekend requesting law enforcement assistance and briefing school principals, teachers and staff about security measures in the wake of Friday's deadly school shootings in Newtown, Conn.

On Monday, Cobb County police and law enforcement from other Cobb cities made safety rounds at schools.

"Our precinct patrol officers are driving by all schools in their assigned beats," Cobb Police Department Spokesman Officer Michael Bowman told Patch.

Cobb schools spokesman Doug Goodwin said the district has a 44-member full-time security staff that works out of high schools and middle schools but not elementary schools for "resource" reasons.

He said the extra police patrols will continue on an indefinite basis.

"We don't have a timetable, but it certainly will remain in effect for now," said Goodwin, adding that law enforcement agencies from Cobb County and various municipalities are providing "full cooperation."

Cobb schools are in session through Thursday and will resume on Jan. 8 after the holiday break.

Goodwin said Cobb school officials have been updating school staff about existing security procedures. At elementary schools, for example, he said staff were making sure that electronic access control systems were in place.

"We're well-trained in how these procedures are to go forth," he said.

Various principals sent out messages over the weekend with security information and to reassure parents.

Wrote John Kelly, Sprayberry High School principal: "We review our emergency preparedness plans and practice emergency drills on a regular basis, and the recent tragedy serves as a reminder of how important it is that we continue to do so."

Cheryl Mauldin, principal of Kincaid Elementary School, offered these thoughts to her school community:

"We have always focused on positive things that go on and try to stay away from the negative. Each time that an event like this takes place we must keep in mind that it is isolated and strive to learn things we can put in place at Kincaid to keep us safe.

"As a proactive measure to assure awareness, the school recently deployed a new state of the art surveillance system. This system has monitor capability covering the entire property, inside and out. Additionally, teachers and parents are vigilant to report persons on the property without a security badge. Our substitute teacher staff is a an asset as most are former teaching professionals expert in school policies and procedures. We want you to know that safety of your child is our highest priority, and that we will learn as much as possible from every tragic event to put more measures in place for the safety of all.

"This is a time of year when many parents will be coming to our school and we ask that you also help us. If you see something that does not look right please let us know and we will take care of it. Please keep the families that were involved in your thought and prayers. Hug your child and let them know how special that they are to you."