Foothills law enforcement and educators hit the classroom for lessons on keeping students safe

BURKE COUNTY. N.C. — While thousands of students took a break this summer, local law enforcement and educators went back to the classroom to find new ways to keep kids safe.

Channel 9′s Dave Faherty went to three counties in the North Carolina foothills where school is set to return to session on Monday to learn more about the new security measures the area school districts are adding this year.

In Burke County, Channel 9 was in the building as active shooter training took place at the old Chesterfield Elementary School. Not only was law enforcement involved in the mock drill, but also dozens of teachers like Joanne Pieto.

“Just keep the kids you’re assigned to safe, that’s our main goal,” she said.

Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant said after the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, law enforcement in the area hammered home one goal to its officers when responding to a possible shooting inside a school.

“The number one thing that we must do is stop the threat immediately,” he said. “And that’s where, because we’re in a rural area, that officers may go in alone. And they cannot wait.”

The district is also trying to prevent someone from getting into any of its schools.

At Freedom High School, Channel 9′s Faherty saw this firsthand. After walking through the front door, he couldn’t get into the rest of the school.

“Once you get in you can’t get beyond this door here because you have to be buzzed in,” said Shanda Epley, the high school’s principal.

The district also discussed the importance of keeping all other doors secure with a no-prop-open policy.

“We’ve talked with our head custodian … our cafeteria staff … the open doors we have deliveries coming in,” said Charles Williams, principal at Valdese Elementary. “‘Protect the house’ is the theme this year.”

Catawba County has added six school resource officers and the local SWAT team now has saw that can cut through door hinges, which was a concern during the mass shooting in Uvalde.

They too have conducted training exercises this summer, including one on the campus of Catawba Valley Community College.

“Safety and security for our teachers. You know, they can’t learn if they don’t feel safe in the schools,” said Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown.

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Caldwell County Schools already has resources officers in every school. They’ve now added ballistic shields, purchased through a state grant, at eleven schools across the district.

“So, when we respond, we have this extra layer of protection to help us get to the problem faster,” said Andrew Absher, one of the district’s resource officers.

Hickory Public Schools is requiring clear bags at all sporting events where they also installed metal detectors last year.

Earlier this week, Burke County held an emergency first aid class for district leaders.

Everyone is hoping the training and new equipment will never have to be used.

“I volunteered for this, because I feel like those children are my children and I would want somebody to take the initiative to step up and protect them,” Pieto said.

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Safety a concern as students across Carolinas head back to school

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