Changes are coming to make Wake schools safer. Here’s what you need to know.
New security rules and programs are going into place to try to make Wake County schools safer and to help respond to emergencies.
Wake County school administrators said Tuesday they’ll pilot a new panic button smartphone app in 28 schools that will allow teachers and staff inside a school to communicate with each other and emergency personnel.
In addition, school security staff also reviewed a new clear bag policy that will go into effect Friday at high school spectator events. This would include athletic events and school performances where the public is invited on campus.
The security measures come amid a time of growing fear about school violence, highlighted in November by the fatal stabbing of a Southeast Raleigh High School student on campus.
“You never know when there’s going to be a bad situation, and we want our kids to be safe,” Wake County parent Neal Roberts told ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner. “And a panic button would help with access to emergency personnel early, which is crucial.”
RAVE panic button app
The state is providing $4.7 million for school districts and charter schools to use the RAVE panic button app.
The app will allow teachers and other school employees to press a button on their phone designating if there’s a police, fire, medical or other emergency. The app will provide the person’s location to 911 as well as notify designated people at the school.
During an emergency, the app allows for emergency operation plans, evacuation routes, floor plans and other critical information to be uploaded and made available to staff and first responders.
“Two factors that make this thing great: speed and efficiency,” Kendrick Scott, Wake’s senior director of security, told the school board’s safety and security committee. “That’s what I’m after.“
There’s also a “staff assist” option that will let employees contact each other for non-emergency situations such as minor medical situations.
Wake has picked 28 schools to pilot the program starting in April. School security staff will review the pilot data before deciding whether to recommend expanding the app’s use districtwide.
The app will only be available for teachers and other school staff, but downloading it will be optional. Scott said he expects that employees will want to use the app after they see it in use.
“When folks utilize this and see how good it and how fast it is, it’s going to sell itself,” Scott said. “It sold me relatively quickly.”
Clear bag rule
As of Friday, Wake will restrict spectators at high school events to clear bags.
Spectators would be allowed to bring one clear bag no larger than 12” x 15” x 3.” In addition, spectators can bring:
▪ A small, clear clutch bag/wristlet no larger than 4” x 6” x 1.”
▪ Bags containing medically necessary items for that attendee’s assistance (such as an oxygen tank).
▪ Diaper bags.
Spectators can bring the following loose items as long as any compartments capable of storage — such as coat pockets — are left open and are empty.
▪ Coats.
▪ Blanket.
▪ Seat cushions not exceeding 18 inches wide.
▪ Soft baby carriers, slings, strollers.
▪ Medically necessary equipment (oxygen tank with fabric casing, wheelchair, walker).
Increasing safety at spectator events
Scott said the new rules will make spectator events safer.
“It is a deterrent, because if I can see what’s in your bag it makes it much harder for you to bring something into an event that you shouldn’t bring there,” Scott said. “That’s why you typically see them at large scale events.”
The new rule would ban spectators from bringing items such as fabric backpacks, purses and fanny packs.
The new rules wouldn’t apply during the school day to the backpacks that students use. It also wouldn’t apply to parents who are coming on campus to pick up their children.
Scott said they’ll review on a monthly basis how the new rules are working. He said they’ll try to resolve any issues before they get large crowds in the fall for high school football games.
This story was originally published February 27, 2024 at 4:28 PM.
