The following was shared by email with families and staff in late September:
WEST COLUMBIA, SC -- The safety of Lexington Two students, employees, and schools is our top priority. That means we are continuously evaluating our security programs, processes, and procedures to further strengthen school safety. Read our website page that outlines some of the safety measures and programs in our schools.
Beginning in October, as part of our ongoing efforts, we plan to implement random safety screenings on our middle and high school campuses. These “pop up” screenings are not in response to any specific concern, but rather part of the district’s proactive approach to safety. These screenings will provide an additional layer of protection with minimal disruption to the school day and overall school culture.
It’s important to note that, while school administrators will schedule a date with district safety teams to conduct a screening — with the expectation of one or more days per month at each of the district’s middle and high schools — the selection of a classroom(s) at the school will be made using a random generator. That’s one of the reasons studies have noted that this is an effective option for schools, as no one knows who will be screened on a given day.
As with all of our safety measures, we will evaluate this initiative and make any changes where and if needed, based on feedback and effectiveness. In the meantime, we’ve compiled FAQs about the screenings below.
Thank you for your support as we work together to keep our schools safe and focused on learning. If you have any questions, please feel free to talk with school or district administrators.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q: What are you looking for in these screenings?
A: Weapons and any other illegal or prohibited items on school grounds. Click this to view a list of prohibited items.
Q: How will these random screenings work?
A: Once a classroom(s) is randomly selected:
- Students will be asked to exit the classroom with their backpacks and any other personal belongings to a mobile screening area.
- Backpacks will be handed to a screener while students walk through a weapons detector.
- Backpacks will be placed in the same order as the students, kept separate
from them but remaining within their line of sight. - Students will be individually called from the group to be present during the
screening of their backpack. - At the conclusion of the backpack screening, students will be provided a
letter to take home to inform parents/guardians of the screening that day.
Q: How long will students be out of a classroom for a screening and backpack check?
A: We expect 2 safety team members to conduct backpack checks, each screening about 2 individuals in a minute’s time, so it should not take long.
Q: What if my child is taking a test when a screening is called or is unable to finish an in-class assignment because of the screening?
A: We expect allowances will be made for situations like this.
Q: What if a weapon is found?
A: If a weapon is found during a screening, the student will be escorted by administration and the SRO to another location. Students found with a weapon, as outlined in discipline policies JKAA and JKAB, will face consequences in accordance with board policy and/or state law.
Q: What if a student is found with another kind of forbidden item other than a weapon?
A: Any items prohibited on campus as outlined in JKAA and JKAB — a vape, for example — will be bagged and transferred to the school administrator. At that time, a hall monitor or administrator may escort the student to another location until the conclusion of the screen. Students found with prohibited items may face consequences in accordance with board policy.
Q: Why not just use metal detectors at entrances every day?
A: We use metal detectors now for public events in our gyms, arenas, stadiums and the Performing Arts Center. While we continue to evaluate fixed weapons detectors daily as an option inside schools, we are confident in the effectiveness of these random screenings on middle and high school campuses, particularly when combined with other effective measures like our tip line and Linewize electronic monitoring. Ultimately, it is difficult to compare data between fixed weapons detector daily screenings and random screenings. We do know, however, that there is no single solution to ensuring school safety; rather, multiple layers of protection are most effective.
Q: What can parents/guardians do?
A: We urge parents/guardians to monitor your child’s activities: friends, schedules, social media posts, comings and goings. Keep tabs on what they’re keeping in their rooms and carrying in their bookbags, purses, pockets, and even vehicles. Remind them what’s at stake if they’re caught with something prohibited, even illegal, on school grounds. Finally, we ask that you remind students that if they see or hear something concerning or suspicious, say something. Tell an adult — teacher, parent/guardian, school administrator, SRO — or contact our district tipline 24/7: (803) 363-5172 or [email protected].