Student safety has been a primary concern for parents across the U.S. after the latest mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, last spring.
April Hennessey, a member of the MCCSC school board, said the hiring of unarmed resource officers, who are posted in school buildings, will help ensure student safety.
“Those resource officers are excellent trained professionals who understand the scope of the plan,” Hennessey said.
LISTEN TO MORE: What people are concerned about as students return to school this Fall
Mitch Bratton, director of special education for MCCSC, said schools have increased the number of resource officers with law enforcement backgrounds quickly.
Other concerns involve COVID-19 and the impact it and the lockdown had on students’ mental health. Bratton says the MCCSC is trying to be proactive about the issue and has many programs in place to help with student needs.
“We call it the whole child support system because that’s exactly what it is,” Bratton said. “We’re acknowledging and making sure that we have supports in place, not just for academics but also for behavior, as well as social, emotional, and mental health.”
MCCSC continues to meet and prepare for the year with students back to the classroom.
