News Summary
Following a tragic shooting in Minneapolis, Upstate South Carolina schools are enhancing security to safeguard students and staff. Key changes are being implemented to safety protocols.
Greenville, South Carolina — In the wake of a tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, schools in Upstate South Carolina are ramping up security measures to protect their students and staff. The incident has ignited a renewed focus on safety protocols within educational institutions, prompting significant changes at schools like First Presbyterian Academy (FPA).
Dr. Rob Brown, the head of FPA, has emphasized that the importance of safety in schools has gained prominence over the last two decades. In response to the heightened concern regarding school security, FPA has introduced a series of enhanced safety initiatives. These include collaborations with off-duty Greenville County deputies for additional on-site enforcement, the hiring of private security personnel, and secured access points throughout the campus. Future plans also include the addition of ballistic shields to window installations to further bolster the school’s defenses.
These security enhancements at FPA are funded primarily through tuition and contributions to the Armor Fund, as private educational institutions typically have limited access to state funding for such initiatives. This funding model underscores the financial challenges faced by private schools in maintaining adequate safety protocols.
In the broader context, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced plans to allocate sufficient funds for placing armed and certified School Resource Officers (SROs) in every public school across the state. This government action highlights the urgency and significance of school safety in light of recent violent events in educational settings. However, Adam Crisp, the Chief Operating Officer of Signal locations, has pointed out that, with increasing incidents, a single SRO may no longer suffice to ensure effective security measures in schools.
While charter schools have the opportunity to apply for security grants, private schools like FPA often face considerable funding hurdles. Legislation is currently being supported by State Representative Jordan Pace, which would allow teachers to volunteer for training in SRO techniques so they may carry firearms. This proposed measure has sparked a heated debate in South Carolina, drawing mixed responses from parents and teaching boards regarding arming educators.
Local efforts to enhance school security have also manifested through the implementation of the Raptor Alert badge system in Greenville County schools. This innovative system aims to improve emergency response times and communication during crises. All staff members are now required to wear the badge, which interacts with an app that notifies the authorities. Specific click patterns on the badge are programmed to signal different levels of emergencies—three clicks indicate a serious issue involving a student, while seven clicks initiate a school-wide lockdown. The deployment of the Raptor Alert system comes with a price tag of approximately $1.1 million over three years, with an initial investment of $650,000 in the first year. Devices will require charging every four to five months.
Taylors Elementary School served as one of the pilot locations for the Raptor Alert system. Early feedback suggests that the implementation of this alert system has yielded significant benefits in enhancing overall school safety and emergency preparedness.
The integration of these various safety measures demonstrates a concerted effort by both public and private educational institutions in Upstate South Carolina to protect children and staff members in the wake of deteriorating national security concerns in schools. A unified approach to school safety is emerging, as communities seek to foster environments that prioritize the well-being of their students.
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Why School Security Varies Across SC Public, Private, Charter Schools
- Post and Courier: Greenville Schools Launch Panic Button System
- Greenville Online: Greenville Schools Panic Button County Launches Million Dollar System
- Wikipedia: School Security
- Encyclopedia Britannica: School Violence
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
