Tennessee Valley schools improve school safety

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has proposed $30.2 million to fund school safety, but schools in the Tennessee Valley are already working to make our schools safer.

“It’s open to everything from SROs to physical improvements in the schools, video monitors,” Governor Haslam said.

East Side Elementary in Chattanooga has already implemented a new visitor monitoring system built by Raptor. Hamilton County Schools intends to have all schools equipped with the new programs by May, with more plans on the way.

Here in the Tennessee Valley, schools are already dipping into the budget to provide safer environments for the students.

Like Hamilton County, who instituted a new visitor check point to check the person’s background before letting them in the school.

“We’re looking at the issues that are out there, seeing that we needed to make this change right away,” said Tim Hensley, Hamilton County Schools spokesman.

And grants from the Governor will help with future projects.

“The initial reaction is wonderful, excellent that we’re able to get more funding for school safety and whatever that might look like as it comes down to the school systems,” Hensley said.

Bradley County welcomes the possibly of more funding from the state.

“We can always enhance every school in the county and make it safer,” Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson said.

Bradley County schools have partnered with the sheriff’s office to put more SROs in the two high schools. And the Sheriff says they are armed and ready to protect if necessary.

“We’re not going to let somebody into the grounds with a firearm or they will be taken out… bottom line,” Watson added.

Hamilton County tells me they hope the governor’s proposal gets passed by the summer. They have big plans to install new security systems in all the schools during the break.