Safety and security were the main topics of Thursday’s Christian County School Board meeting. Attendees received a presentation on school safety procedures and an update concerning threats made toward students on Monday.
School Safety and Title IX Coordinator Kathleen Carter shared what safety precautions are ensured daily at county schools. Concerning threats and weapons, Carter says all schools maintain shooting and bomb threat procedures; middle and high schools have weapon detection systems; some students undergo bag expectations and staff receive feedback from law enforcement concerning school safety drills.
Carter says the recently transitioned school campuses have also undergone security inspections.
The safety procedure updates also came after shooting threats were made toward Christian County High School students on Monday. The Hopkinsville Police Department was made aware of a post on social media created by an unknown person that included the names of multiple students the poster wanted to shoot allegedly.
On Wednesday, a Hopkinsville juvenile was arrested in connection to the threats and was charged with terroristic threatening and tampering with physical evidence. Assistant Superintendent Kevin Crider says they have asked parents and guardians to have conversations with their students concerning the seriousness of making threats and the consequences that could follow.
Crider says the school system will continue to take all threats made seriously and ensure that those who make threats receive the appropriate consequences such as alternative school placement or expulsion.
School Resource Officers were also at Thursday’s meeting and introduced themselves and shared what schools they work at.
The board members expressed their appreciation for the work done by the SROs and school staff to ensure students remain safe. District Four Board Member Rebecca Pepper emphasized the importance of communication when school threats occur. Pepper has three children in the school system and says she was pleased with the information the school system shared concerning Monday’s threat.
To conclude the meeting, the board approved the working budget for the 2024-2025 school year.