Safety top of mind for families as Cobb County Schools return for new school year

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Thousands of students across Georgia returned to the classroom on Monday, including Cobb County Schools.

Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell learned about new safety initiatives in the state’s second largest school district.

The Cobb County School Board approved a new assistant superintendent for school safety. Josh Morreale, who served as principal at Osborne High School, will oversee the district’s safety initiatives.

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“Student and staff safety will always be the top priority in the Cobb County School District. Our school police officers are well prepared and ready to respond every single day. Over a dozen safety supports, which we call Cobb Shield, continuously support student safety. And now, the new Assistant Superintendent for School Safety Operations will make sure our school buildings are as safe and prepared as they can be, so our principals and teachers can concentrate on teaching and learning,” Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said.

There is also a new crisis alert system for emergencies called Centegix after the district said someone hacked the previous system last year.

The district is also vowing to hold more unannounced code red drills to train students for an active shooter situation.

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With the start of the new school year finally here, there are mixed feelings about safety.

“In public schools kids are going in and they don’t have enough protection for them. I see that. It’s sad,” grandparent Joy Madriz told Newell.

“There’s always a concern, not just with Uvaldi, the school thing, but even with going to church,” grandparent Pamela Palmers said.

Palmers’ grandson is a student in Cobb County School District. As he heads back to school, Palmers told Newell she is confident in the district’s safety plan so far.

“I’ll say yes I’m happy right now because I don’t know where the vulnerabilities are and you won’t know until something happens,” grandparent Pamela Palmer.

Cobb County parents want results and actions implemented to prevent a school shooting Concern about how to protect Cobb County schools from an active shooter is what brought more than a dozen parents to the school board meeting Thursday night.

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