By CHARLES OWENS
TAZEWELL, Va. — Students will be returning to the classroom Thursday across Tazewell County in schools with newly enhanced security measures.
“We are in the process of installing security and surveillance cameras at our schools, and several of our high schools are already up and running,” School Superintendent Dr. Brenda Lawson said. “We will be working throughout the year to have those in place at all of our schools. We will give priority to our high schools and middle schools. Once we complete the installation there we will be proceeding to our elementary schools. We’ve installed cameras so we can monitor the comings and goings of people in our buildings, as well as students as much as possible to make sure they are safe. We will have cameras in the hallways and in the common areas, such as your auditorium, cafeteria and library.”
The security measures also will go another step further in the Bluefield area schools, Lawson said.
“All of our Bluefield schools are equipped with a system where once students are at school, the doors will be locked, and anyone who wants to enter the school will have to push a button, and be recognized by the school personnel and then the door will open and they will be admitted,” Lawson said. “With the camera, we will be able to see who they are. Once they state their purpose, they will be cleared and admitted. We are wanting to provide a safe environment as much a possible. You can’t be 100 percent safe, but we are really trying to secure our facilities.”
Lawson said all of the school buses in the division also are equipped with cameras and new radio systems and tracking systems.
Thursday and Friday will be early dismissal days for the students. Lawson said school officials will keep a watchful eye on the weather forecast, and predictions of temperatures at or near 90.
“It does (create a concern) considering the majority of our buildings do not have air conditioning,” she said. “But we are certainly going to have to be cognizant of the well being of our students and staff. If the weather continues as it has in the past few days, we will have to look again at altering the school schedule. With the first two days being early dismissals, I think we will be OK.”
Lawson said several new principals and assistant principals will be on the job Thursday. They include Sarah Morse, the new principal at North Tazewell Elementary; Deidra Hill, the new principal at Graham Middle School; Susan Maupin, the new principal at Dudley Primary; Beth Roe, the new assistant principal at Graham High School; and Charity McDaniel, the new assistant principal at Richlands Middle School.
Lawson said the school system also will have 23 new teachers.
“And of course we’ve increased our offerings to students in terms of additional advance classes, dual enrollment classes and we will continue to increase our intervention programs for those children needing additional help,” she said.
Lawson said a new heating and air conditioning system also is under construction at Graham High School.
“We just think it is going to make a tremendous difference up there to the learning and work environment,” Lawson said of the new heating and cooling system. “And we can abandon the old boiler system.”
The school system ended the 2006-2007 school year with 6,655 students. Lawson said preliminary indications suggest the county could see a slight increase in enrollment. However, final figures won’t be known until after Labor Day.
