Check Your Kid's Backpack: Douglas School Superintendent Says

DOUGLAS COUNTY, GA — In a safety bulletin sent out by Doulgas County Schools Superintendent Trent North Tuesday, the school system recommends several methods to keep kids safe, including checking children's backpacks and other belongings.

Here is the safety bulletin:

Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members,

At this time, safety is a major concern for schools across the country. To keep our parents and community informed, for the next few weeks I will send a weekly email giving tips on how to keep our schools safe and highlighting steps the school system is taking regarding safety and security.

• Parents, please continue to encourage your children to report all allegations of threats and bullying. Threats will be taken seriously. Students may report to the nearest adult in the building or to the School Resource Officer (SRO).

• In addition, anyone who has a safety concern outside of school hours can call the School Safety Hotline at 770-651-2395 in addition to notifying our local law enforcement. For immediate safety concerns, a call to 1-877-SAY-STOP (1-877-729-7867) will provide you with a live person to whom you can report the issue. Again, you should be sure to also report to school officials or law enforcement.

• I encourage you to check your children's backpacks and other belongings to ensure that they do not bring inappropriate or illegal items to school.

(For more news like this, sign up for Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news in Douglasville — or other neighborhoods. Access Patch on the go with our iPhone app or our brand new app for Android phone users.)

• Please know that safety personnel at the school system continuously reviews its protocols for ways to improve in the areas of safety and security. All feedback from students, staff, parents, and community members is constantly evaluated to identify areas that can be addressed immediately and areas that will require long-term planning. If you have suggestions or concerns, you may email James Strong or call 770-651-2101.

Thank you all for your support as we work to make schools in Douglas County excellent not only in academics, athletics, and the arts, but also in safety for our students and staff.

Sincerely,

Trent North, Superintendent

Image via Shutterstock