Horry County Schools adding armed security guards to all 27 elementary schools
HORRY CO., SC Aug 14 2018 Horry County schools taking new security measures to keep your kids safe.
Last school year, middle and high schools had either school resource officers or armed security guards. Starting this year, there will be armed security guards in all 27 Horry County elementary schools.
For the first time, Horry County school security guards are being integrated into the Horry County Police Department’s active shooter training.
“We’re looking for the first person who’s there to give us all the information possible so that we can quickly make entry and immediately stop the threat,” said Kevin Cast, training officer for HCPD.
That first person already there, the armed security guard.
“That way there is shared expectations and the security guard knows whats going to happen when law enforcement arrives on scene,” said David Beaty, HCS coordinator of schools safety and security.
The district uses a private security firm U.S. Security Associates. The cost to have armed security guards in the elementary schools is about $830,000.
“We require that they have former military experience and obviously being honorably discharged. We prefer the former retired law enforcement because they bring a lot of skill sets and training that they’ve had in their former professions,” said Beaty.
Last year, 18 middle and high schools in the unincorporated areas of Horry County used security services. The rest used security resource officers. School leaders say they’ve gotten positive feedback
“They’re out there building those relationships and students confiding in them,” said Beaty.
A new school safety law requires every school district to develop a safety plan for fire, severe weather and active shooter situations. News 13 asked the state board of education where they’re at with that.
They said they are finalizing those guidelines with SLED, and should have them out for schools in the next week or two.
State Senator Greg Hembree of North Myrtle Beach wrote the original legislation.
WBTW
