*If you want to get involved and help, please send an email to KeepOurSchoolsSafe1@gmail.com

My daughter is about to enter Little Mill Middle School, a place where not long ago, a 14-year-old child was caught with a loaded 9MM gun. This terrifying incident has left me and many other parents in our community deeply concerned for the safety of our children. I know of many parents who have kids too scared to go back to school, and I saw 1 parent say she quitting her job to homeschool her child. Our schools should be safe havens for learning and growth, not places where our children and teachers are at risk of violence.

In Forsyth County, Georgia, we are calling on the school board to implement enhanced security measures across all schools. These measures include installing metal detectors at unlocked entrances & running regular proper mandated active shooter drills to truly prepare students and staff for potential incidents.

I do not expect all schools do have metal detectors by the beginning of next school year, but we could start with random "pop up" screenings at the middle and high schools. The scanners I have researched are 25 lbs and set up in less than 5 minutes. We could purchase a handful of these and 2-3 times a week set up at a random school on a random date. This would at least START the process and would also help deter children from bringing in weapons.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), during the 2017-2018 school year alone there were around 4.1 million disciplinary actions taken against students that ranged from violent incidents like physical attacks or fights (2.5 million) to possession of a firearm or explosive device (3,600). The same report also shows that only 43% of public schools reported using security cameras while just over half (51%) controlled access to their buildings during school hours.

We have many districts in GA already using scanners. Scanners that move all students through in under 15 minutes. They are portable and can be set up in less than 5 minutes.

There are grants to help pay for the scanners; the school districts just need to do some work to get them approved for our county. As a parent, I would be willing to help raise funds in any way I could.

The journey to secure and effectively use school safety grants is not just about enhancing physical security measures; it's about creating a nurturing environment where every student can thrive without fear and our teachers can teach without worry of being harmed.

How many of our kids or grandchildren have to be injured, or worse killed before we get the proper response from the district? We cannot wait until another incident happens before we take action. We must prioritize the safety of our children and teachers now by implementing these necessary precautions in Forsyth County Schools. Please sign and share this petition today and help us make our schools safer places for learning. Help me create a place we can trust our children will be safe again. Where we don't have to worry when they get on the bus if that's the last time we will see them. 

I know this all sounds horrible and terrifying, but this is where we are at today.