NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Contact: Tim Hensley, APR

March 1, 2018

Statement from Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson on School Safety

As a public school system, we are charged with preparing our students for post-secondary opportunities,
which requires a relentless focus on teaching and learning. Yet, given recent events, we also understand
the safety and well-being of students and staff is at the forefront for all school superintendents and boards
of education. We are no different in Hamilton County.

Unfortunately, we are in a day and age where headlines can sometimes lead to false conclusions by the
general public. On yesterday, I advised the media that since the tragedy in Florida, we have worked
closely with local law enforcement officials to be sure we are prepared for any circumstance that would
put our students and staff in harm’s way. We have heard many ideas from the community about ways to
improve safety efforts – including calls to arm our teachers. However, it is incumbent on the school
system to vet safety concepts, especially through detailed discussions with public safety partners in the
community. Having those discussions is not an endorsement of a particular idea or concept; it is only an
effort to complete our due diligence in determining the views of law enforcement on these issues.

To be clear, we have not heard or agreed to any specific plan that increases armed personnel in our
schools. Moreover, we would absolutely consult teachers, administrators, and our school community –
along with having to seek board approval – before any such plans were considered or implemented.

We have also heard about the proposed legislation related to school safety, and we are in the process of
reviewing this, just as we do with other proposed legislative items that have a potential impact on
educational environments. Everyone is searching for solutions to what has become the vexing challenge
of violence that targets our students and staff. Ultimately, we must all commit to working together to
ensure our schools and our students are safe.

We agree with the recommendation of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) for
the state legislature to approve a special allocation of state funds to every school district in Tennessee for
the enhancement of their school safety plans. We further agree that local board members and
superintendents should determine how these additional funds can be best used to increase safety measures
in their specific districts. We believe an appropriation of state funds for school safety to all local
education agencies (LEAs) is the best resolution. We can then make decisions in consultation with our
broader community about the most effective way to increase school safety for all students and staff. This
would more likely include additional school resource officers (SROs), increased video surveillance,
adding mental health professionals and social workers, etc.
Like TOSS, we appreciate the interest and passion our elected officials are showing on the issue of school
safety. But, we believe that at this point, the optimal scenario is for our district to receive a special
allocation of funds from the state budget for school safety. In Hamilton County, this would allow us to
improve and expand the work that we already have underway to add visitor management systems and
controlled access doors to every school.

In the meantime, we have released a short survey to our staff to ask for direct feedback about what
additional school safety measures they would support. We will share the results of that feedback with our
broader school community.

We will continue to work with local law enforcement and all other stakeholders on this issue. We will
also continue to gather feedback on safety during our remaining eight Community Listening and Planning
Sessions over the next month.

Hamilton County Department of Education

3074 Hickory Valley Rd. Chattanooga, TN 37421
423.498.7020