North Carolina parents concerned over school safety after Georgia mass shooting

Two students and two teachers were killed Wednesday in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder in Georgia.

This incident has prompted local parents in North Carolina to urge a review of safety measures in their children’s schools.

Witnessing school grounds transformed into crime scenes has deepened concerns for parents like LaKendrick Reavis, whose child attends Edgecombe County Schools.

“We try to take every precaution we can,” Reavis says, “but we still hear more and more about school shootings.”

Melissa Willis, who relocated from Georgia to Johnston County, shares similar anxieties.

Her child attends a public school in Johnston County, one of the few districts in North Carolina that regularly employs weapons detection systems.

“I don’t know if it gives me peace of mind,” Willis admits, “but it makes me thankful they are thinking about it. I hate that my child has to have.”

Sharon Gainey, a member of the Harnett County Board of Education, believes these safeguards contribute to a safe learning environment.

“Even as a board member,” she says, “I go through the safety procedures and feel safe.”

Gainey believes that these safeguards contribute to a positive learning environment, but she also urges students, faculty, and staff to speak up if they notice anything unusual.

“If they see something out of place or don’t feel comfortable,” she said, “let somebody know. I would rather have to do an investigation and find nothing wrong than not hear about it.”