QUINCY, Fla. (WTXL)--As students begin the new school year-safety is the number one priority for schools in Gadsden County. They've already began to review their security plans like drills.
"Crisis response drills, whether it be bomb threat drill or bad weather drill, these are all things that we can do to enhance our ability to be prepared for a crisis situation," said Bruce James.
School front desk administrators give out ID badges, which is a big part of their security measures.
Bruce James, the Gadsden County Schools Coordinator for Safety, Security, and investigations says they've had the RAPTOR program for years.
Each person "must" provide their ID before they're allowed to enter into the schools.
A special notification even pops us if the person is a sexual predator or offender.
School shootings like the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut last December and the most recent was at an Atlanta area school where students were unharmed have parents like Ellen Fokes terrified.
"When you hear about a school shooting my heart just drops, just think about, what if it was there school what if it was them," said Fokes.
Fokes says her children are now older but she still has nieces and nephews in school. she says children would be safer in home school.
"I cannot imagine a parent now sending their child to school, I mean I just could not," said Fokes.
But for those who remain in the classroom, James says the goal is to make sure their safety plans work.
"One of the main reasons that we are becoming more aggressive with with the things that we do to be proactive in deterring some of those things that are happening across the nation," said James.
