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Atlanta Public Schools officers train with city police department

By Bob Pepalis

In the wake of the Uvalde, Texas school shooting, Atlanta Public Schools has held active shooter training drills for its officers with the Atlanta Police Department as part of its safety and security protocol.

Ronald Applin, APS police chief and safety and security executive director, said several active threat drills are planned throughout the year. The schools also will hold emergency drills for all types of hazards.

The size of the district’s police force is increasing with the hiring of 11 more officers and a gang intelligence officer. That will bring the police force to a total of 106 officers.

SPLOST funds are paying for the installation of security vestibules at 53 APS schools. Daily use of metal detectors at middle and high schools will be reinforced, the school district said in its announcement of key updates for the 2022-2023 school year.

The safety plan also includes a new door numbering system.

The security measures extend beyond the school buildings to athletic facilities. APS reminded parents and other spectators that it will continue its clear bag protocol for athletic facilities. Applin’s department adopted the policy last year that limits the size and types of bags that may be brought into stadiums, gyms, and other athletic fields.

Don’t bring large purses, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, grocery bags, cinch bags or even camera bags larger than the permissible size – 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches.

Every school also has an updated emergency plan.

The district will continue to promote its “Say Something Anonymous Reporting” initiative, which a school spokesperson said has been successful in preventing issues.

To safeguard students and APS employees as they arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon, the district plans to launch a school zone speed camera pilot project this fall.

Courtesy APS

COVID Mitigation

In addition, APS officials stressed health safety with the start of the school year.

A school spokesperson said APS will “continue its COVID mitigation protocols that allowed it to be the only metro Atlanta district that did not pivot to virtual learning during last school year.”

Masks are optional in buildings and on buses. Surveillance testing is optional for students, twice a week. Surveillance testing is mandatory once per week for employees.

“The district will continue to monitor the community spread of the virus and its variants and will be fully prepared to make adjustments to protocols if the need arises,” the spokesperson said in a release.