Horry County Schools officials are continuing efforts to enhance school security with the addition of a 24-hour tip line and bullying prevention awareness for parents and staff.
The new safety hotline is expected to launch next week, said Deputy Superintendent Bobby Nalley at the Horry County Board of Education meeting Monday night.
Nalley said anyone in the district will be able to report school violence, damage, abuse and gang activity, and a live person will answer the phone to assess any threat.
The district also is working with Horry County Police Chief Johnny Morgan to set up a tip line through the police department so students and parents have another option. Information will be available on the Horry County Schools website, www.horrycountyschools.net, when the hotline is available.
"It'll take the whole community of the school working together," Nalley said.
"Our best source of information always comes from our students and parents."
Ashley Gasperson, digital communications coordinator for the district, has a digital production addressing online bullying and online safety that she and others will present to parent-teacher groups to educate people about how to protect children, said district spokeswoman Teal Britton.
Britton said child-protection information from the U.S. Department of Education will be posted on the district's website, where parents will be able to look up specific topics, such as Facebook.
Nalley said school officials have been working on training to identify bullying and catch the signs before situations escalate. Staff members will meet with principals at each school to review their policies and procedures, with follow-ups in a few months.
Carolyn Chestnut, chief officer for school support services, who attended a conference on bullying in October, told board members about a comprehensive training program on anti-bullying that could be implemented at all levels.
A project of the Clemson University Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life, the program is designed to reduce existing bullying, prevent the development of bullying and achieve better peer relations, she said.
Chestnut also said the district is researching a statewide pilot program that would require a three-year commitment if the district was chosen for one of the 10 slots.
The district needs more information on the training, time and funding needs.
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