School Safety is a priority for CMS

The sale of guns nationwide has almost doubled since the start of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Guns were the leading cause of death for children and teens in 2020, surpassing injuries from vehicle crashes, drug overdoses or cancer. Having said this, the district encourages families to secure and to lock up all firearms. North Carolina state law imposes criminal penalties on adults when a child gains unsupervised access to unsecured firearms. In order to continue with preventative measures to increase student and school safety, adults should store firearms securely. 

CMS has installed Evolv body scanners for K-8 and middle schools since the 2022-2023 school year. This demonstrates the district’s overall commitment to providing a secure school environment where students can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. The installation of the Evolv body scanners in our high schools proved to be effective in deterring weapons in our schools. 

As part of being a community, CMS has implemented the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. All students in grades 6-12 receive training on the what, why, and how to make an anonymous report. Families are also encouraged to utilize Say Something to report any unsafe behavior including threats to self or others.  Let’s all be a part of the solution in keeping our schools safe by utilizing the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.

For more information on this topic visit: https://www.mecknc.gov/HealthDepartment/Pages/ViolencePrevention.aspx