COLUMBIA, S.C. — Parents Concerned About School Safety Amid Recent Threats
In the bustling city of Columbia, a community of concerned parents from Newberry’s public school district is stepping forward with their worries about school safety. This week, threats made against the school have tugged at the heartstrings of many parents, creating an air of anxiety across the district. According to Newberry Sheriff Lee Foster, it’s not just local parents feeling this way, but a sentiment that is echoing throughout the state—and quite possibly the entire country.
Take Crystal Shealy, for instance, a mother of three. With children in the Newberry Public School District, she finds herself caught in a dilemma every morning: should she send her kid to school amidst these escalating safety fears? “I don’t want to send my kid to school crying every morning,” Crystal shared, pouring out her emotions. “Because secretly, when she gets out of the car, I’m the one crying too… and it’s like, ‘Okay, did I make the right decision in sending her?'” It’s a tough spot, and many can relate to that sense of unease.
Recently, these worries have only intensified after her seventh-grade daughter showed her a troubling post making rounds on Snapchat. The post hinted at a potential school shooting, whipping up fear and anxiety among many students and parents alike. “I’m scared—very, very, very scared,” Crystal admitted. What makes it more challenging is that her daughter already experiences anxiety, often expressing her fears of getting hurt at school. “She will lay there and cry and say, ‘Please don’t send me to school because I’m afraid I will get shot,'” Crystal recounted, revealing the depth of their struggle.
The Ripple Effect of Social Media Worries
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster provided insight into how the alarming message circulated. “We had a situation where a student made a post on Facebook and Snapchat, and of course, that was shared through everybody,” he explained. The post gained such traction that parents began receiving it, further spreading the sensational news and raising alarm.
With an upswing in safety threats across South Carolina, parents are not only anxious for their children’s safety but are also ready to question the existing security measures in schools. “Metal detectors would give us a little bit of peace of mind,” Crystal advocated. “It would show that they are implementing something.” She argued that if larger schools can afford such security measures, smaller schools should certainly be able to do so as well.
In a response to mounting concern, the Newberry School District has acknowledged the feedback from parents and is currently exploring the idea of installing metal detectors. However, school officials have pointed out that it comes with a hefty price tag, and it also limits the avenues through which students can enter school. “I know somebody is going to say, ‘Well, there is a price for safety,’ but in this case, it’s a little bit more than that,” Sheriff Foster explained. “It takes at least two people to effectively run a metal detector to check if someone has a weapon.”
Encouraging Open Communication
Thankfully, the recent threats in Newberry were deemed non-credible. Nonetheless, Sheriff Foster urges parents and students to practice open communication about their concerns. He emphasizes the importance of reporting any suspicious behavior or alarming rumors directly to authorities, rather than relying on social media. “If you see something, say something,” he advises. “You don’t have to necessarily see it, but if you hear something that you think has some credibility to it, then say something. But say something to people that can do something about it, rather than putting it out on the internet.”
As parents in Newberry navigate this challenging terrain, the community’s focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of their children. With open dialogue and proactive measures, they hope to build a safer environment where children can learn and thrive.
