Bells, books & Big Brother
By Donna C. Gregory NEWS EDITOR

Security coordinator Tim Mallory (right) meets with Cosby High School's school resource officer, Scott Meyerhoffer (left), and school security officer, Robert Potts Jr.

As if teachers with x-ray eyes in the backs of their heads weren't enough, now Big Brother is watching students at schools, too. All county schools are now equipped with security cameras, reported administrators during last week's school board meeting, and a federal grant is going to make it even harder to sneak a forbidden cigarette or kiss without being caught on tape.

In partnership with the Chesterfield County Police Department, the school system successfully applied for a $565,807 COPS grant, which will pay for additional closed-circuit television cameras, digital video recorders, electronic visitor control systems, additional two-way communication systems and a video intercom system.

The new equipment will be one more step toward maintaining the school system's goal of having safe and secure schools. Last year, Chesterfield County Public Schools hired its first security coordinator, Tim Mallory, who is overseeing the school division's security measures. A task force was also created, which brings together various county agencies, including the police department, on a monthly basis to discuss school safety issues.

Security cameras have been installed at all county schools as part of the school system's efforts to maintain a safe and secure environment for students.

Additionally, the school system began conducting audits at each school to identify weaknesses in safety, looking at areas such as restrooms, classrooms/trailers, access/egress and how crisis management has been addressed. Those audits are still ongoing.

For 2008, Mallory has set the following goals:

• Implement the COPS grant and identify other grant opportunities

• Finish all school safety audits and provide recommendations from those audits

• Update crisis management procedures for the 2008-09 school year

Bullying

In recognition of Bullying Prevention Month, the board was updated on initiatives to end bullying in county schools. According to administrators, bullying behavior is on the decrease here. In 2002-03, Chesterfield had 54,006 students and logged 621 incidents of bullying. By 2006-07, that number dropped to 333 incidents with 58,455 students.

Administrators credit this decline partially to the number of anti-bullying programs now offered at many county schools. For example, Alberta Smith Elementary, Bailey Bridge Middle and Swift Creek Middle are using the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which involves adopting school-wide rules against bullying and teaching children to understand why kids bully and to have empathy for those who are bullied.

As a result of state legislation in 2006, all county elementary schools this year are incorporating lessons on cyberbullying, personal safety, cybercitizenship and Internet manners. Lessons for middle schools and high schools are being developed and will begin in the 2008-09 school year.

"Social Web sites, like MySpace and Facebook, instant messages and text messages can be used aggressively and inappropriately," said David Rankin, the school system's manager of media services. "Research indicates that this cyberbullying may cause greater emotional harm because it can be widely disseminated and is ongoing 24-7."