Hamilton Co. Superintendent talks about school violence

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Yesterday’s scary shooting incident at Dalton High school brought the issue of student safety to the forefront.

Hamilton county schools superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson spoke to the Rotary club at noon and rejected any one single solution to that problem.

The superintendent told the business community on Thursday that the goals of the district are broad and wide. They included using every tool at hand to better prepare students. But, he acknowledged early on that safety is at the top of the list.

“It’s our obligation to listen to every thought and idea that’s out there. We ultimately believe the answer doesn’t necessarily lie in a teacher carrying a gun. We don’t believe that the answer lies in any single thing. We think it’s going to take a community effort.”

And that planning includes some proposed programs discussed by the school board to make school facilities safer.

Johnson says new technology can provide more security at schools…including ways to electronically lock doors and screen visitors. One system is called Raptor.

Dr. Johnson “..so Raptor is a management system so that anybody that comes is has to scan their driver’s license. It pulls up immediately if they are a sex offender. It also has the capability of pulling up significant criminal acts and things of that nature and if its somebody that presents a danger to a child. Obviously it alerts us and we wouldn’t allow them to have access.”

Hamilton county sheriff Jim Hammond is not necessarily supporting the idea of arming teachers.

In a news release he points out that having armed and trained SRO’s in every school would be a big step in providing security, but there are only 31 such officials now…for more than 70 schools.

The superintendent believes the staff can be better prepared.

Dr. Johnson says  “I think one of the things that obviously a tragedy like this brings to light is that we’ve got to practice these events more and more unfortunately the reality is we have to practice these events in times when its uncomfortable.”

A final security plan may be months in the making.