COLUMBIA, S.C. — Concerns for School Safety Spark Conversations Among Parents
As the school year gets into full swing, parents in Newberry’s public school district are facing a series of unsettling events that have pushed school safety to the forefront of their minds. Recently, these concerns have been exacerbated by online threats that have circulated among students, particularly on popular social media platforms like Snapchat and Facebook.
The Fear is Real for Many Families
One parent, Crystal Shealy, a mother of three, expressed her worries poignantly. “I don’t want to send my kid to school crying every morning,” she shared, her emotions resonating with many parents who feel similarly. “Because secretly, when she gets out of the car, I’m the one crying too… and it’s like, ‘Okay, did I make the right decision in sending her?’
Shealy’s trepidation grew after her seventh-grade daughter came home with news of a troubling post making rounds on Snapchat, warning of a possible school shooting. “I’m scared—very, very, very scared,” Shealy admitted, acknowledging the enhanced anxiety surrounding the situation. She mentioned her daughter’s struggle with anxiety, saying, “She will lay there and cry and say, ‘Please don’t send me to school because I’m afraid I will get shot.’”
The Role of Social Media
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster spoke about the spreading of the alarming post. “We had a situation where a student made a post on Facebook and Snapchat, and of course, that was shared through everybody,” he explained. The post gained traction in what Foster described as a viral manner, causing panic among parents and students alike.
With social media becoming an increasingly important tool in communication, it has also become a source of fear in these situations. The Sheriff encourages parents to report their concerns directly to authorities instead of posting about them online. “We say this all the time, but, ‘If you see something, say something,'” Foster urged. “You don’t have to necessarily see it, but if you hear something credible, speak up!”
Calls for Enhanced Security Measures
Given the uptick in reported threats across the state, many parents are questioning the current security measures in place at schools. Shealy, for one, believes that metal detectors could be a step in the right direction. “Metal detectors would give us a little bit of peace of mind,” she said. “It would show that they are implementing something.
While the Newberry School District has recognized these worries and is exploring the possibility of installing metal detectors, officials caution that the implementation of such measures comes with challenges. “It takes at least two people to effectively run a metal detector to determine if someone has a weapon on them,” Foster explained. Adding to this, the price of such security measures is substantial, which could limit entry points for students—a logistic issue many schools would need to contend with.
Prioritizing Communication and Safety
Although the specific threat in Newberry was determined to be non-credible, it has sparked widespread dialogue about the importance of communication and safety in schools. Parents are urged to take an active role in ensuring their children feel secure while also reminding them that reporting their concerns is crucial.
As this discourse continues, the community emphasizes the need for transparency and open lines of communication between schools, law enforcement, and parents. Ultimately, fostering a safe environment for children to learn and grow is the shared goal of all involved.
