NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – Schools across Virginia are on heightened alert following a school shooting in Georgia, with some districts taking extra precautions to ensure student safety.
Nelson County is among those stepping up efforts by increasing patrols around its schools.
Nelson County Sheriff Mark Embrey told WDBJ7 that while School Resource Officers (SROs) are already stationed in all four of the county’s schools, additional patrols are in place to provide reassurance to parents and students.
“We want to have a presence on the property and parking areas to give assurance to families, staff, the public school system, and the community that we are nearby if needed,” said Sheriff Embrey.
He said the safety of students is the department’s top priority, emphasizing the seriousness of threats made against schools.
“Making a threat, whether a student thinks it’s funny or not, is a serious issue, and it will be treated as such,” said Embrey.
Nelson County isn’t the only district ramping up safety measures. Roanoke City Public Schools reminded parents of its strong partnerships with the Roanoke Police Department and Sheriff’s Office. All city schools have SROs on site, and staff regularly reviews crisis response plans to ensure preparedness for any emergency.
Roanoke County Public Schools is also reinforcing security protocols. It has SROs in all middle and high schools, and by October, each elementary school will have an officer on site. In addition, school staff is trained in threat assessments and emergency response using the “run-hide-fight” method.
Virginia law mandates all schools conduct yearly lockdown drills to ensure students and staff are prepared in the event of a crisis.
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