BCS Communications Department
The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is of utmost importance at Buncombe County Schools.
BCS’ focus on safety was crystal clear Tuesday at a Safety Symposium, held at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain. There, administrators from every school and the Central Office heard presentations on a range of school safety issues, from bullying to domestic violence to threatening behavior. They learned about the impacts of traumatic experiences on young minds, how to recognize the signs of trauma, and how to utilize protective factors to promote safety in schools.
They also heard a presentation from former Johnston Elementary School Principal Charlotte Hipps and former Assistant Principal Tyla Moody about the full-scale evacuation and reunification drill that took place at the school last year.
“This symposium is designed to bring together all principals and counselors from the schools with district leadership support to highlight the preventive measures to violent acts in schools and to review the reactionary steps taken in the event a severe on traumatic event does take place,” said BCS Assistant Superintendent Joseph Hough. “The symposium invites all of the school system partners – such as local law enforcement, health care partners, and community leadership – to work together to improve school safety.”