[EdTalks] School Safety in Greenville County Schools: Layers of Security

Описание: What does school safety in Greenville County Schools look like? Get an inside look at the layers of security, from random weapons detection to active shooter training.

As parents and community members, we all want the same thing: schools where our children can learn, grow, and feel safe. But what does it actually take to secure a large school district? In this episode, we get a rare, in-depth look at the comprehensive strategy for school safety in Greenville County Schools. Many security systems are designed never to fail, but the best are designed with the assumption that one layer might. This "layers of security" approach is what keeps students and staff safe every day.

We're joined by Greg Porter, the Director of Security, School safety, and Emergency Preparedness for Greenville County Schools, who pulls back the curtain on the district's complex safety and security operations. Greg explains the foundational pillars of emergency management for schools: Prepare, Prevent, Mitigate, Respond, and Recover. We dive deep into the concept of creating layers of school security, from architectural design and building hardening in new schools to retrofitting existing ones. Greg discusses the crucial importance of active shooter training for school staff, which goes far beyond watching a video. This training includes practicing "Run, Hide, Fight" (or "Avoid, Deny, Defend") principles and conducting regular drills, which are observed by third-party law enforcement to ensure effectiveness. The district even performs intrusion testing with plainclothes officers to test and reinforce protocols, changing the culture to one of constant awareness. We also explore the rationale behind using randomized weapons detection systems in schools, a strategy designed to be a constant deterrent without creating a prison-like environment. Greg addresses how the district is constantly evaluating its protocols by debriefing incidents that happen across the country, ensuring the approach to school safety in Greenville County Schools is always evolving. It’s a delicate balance between implementing new technologies like cameras and vape sensors and focusing on the human element—the daily grind of training staff to prevent, deter, and respond to any situation.

About Our Guest:
Greg Porter is the Director of Security, School Safety, and Emergency Preparedness for Greenville County Schools. His path to this critical role is unique, beginning with his service in the Marine Corps, including a deployment to Iraq. He then spent nearly 14 years with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, where he served as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Woodmont High School, a juvenile gang investigator, and a supervisor of SROs before transitioning to his current leadership position with the school district.

Timestamps:
(0:00) How Greenville County Schools Keeps Students Safe
(1:16) From Marine Corps to Director of School Safety: Greg Porter's Journey
(2:28) The Pillars of Emergency Management & Layers of School Security
(4:20) Active Shooter Training and Intrusion Testing for School Staff
(6:02) How School Safety Protocols Have Evolved Since Columbine
(7:39) Why Randomized Weapons Detection Systems Are Used in Schools
(9:46) Balancing New Technology with Proven Safety Protocols
(11:23) Creating a Welcoming School Environment Through Safety

What are your thoughts on the "layers of security" approach? Did anything in this conversation surprise you? Let us know in the comments below, and don't forget to like this video and subscribe for more conversations about what's happening in our community.

#schoolsafety #greenvillecountyschools #greenvillesc #emergencymanagement #activeshootertraining #schoolsecurity #educationpodcast #safetyprotocols #weaponsdetection #simplecivics

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