Barrow County parents, students and employees have until Friday to offer their opinions about school safety in a communitywide survey created by the school district in the wake of September’s shooting at Apalachee High.

The district is considering changes such as:

  • implementing weapons detection systems
  • changes to what types of backpacks are allowed on school grounds
  • student photo identification badges
  • more mental health resources
  • increasing security personnel on school grounds

The responses will be shared with the school board at its Jan. 28 work session for their consideration in future decisions. The district is asking each person to take the survey just once. Participants are required to identify their relationship to the school system.

After a student allegedly shot and killed four people at Apalachee High School in September, parents and community members have pressured the school system to increase security on its campuses. So far, the school board has agreed to hire an additional eight school resource officers and to put phones in classrooms to aid in communication.