MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The Baldwin County Board of Education is looking at implementing additional metal detectors at Baldwin High School.

Superintendent Dr. Noris Price said at Tuesday’s school board meeting that the BHS administration is exploring the option due to recent crime events in Milledgeville.

“We’ve had some issues in our community that unfortunately carry over into our schools, and I believe in being proactive,” Price said addressing the board. “As you know the safety and security of our students and our staff is number one. It’s the top priority for us, it’s the top priority for me, and it’s the top priority for our school administration, so we are exploring looking at metal detectors for Baldwin High School.”

A 15-year-old Baldwin High School student sustained two gunshot wounds less than a month ago when a fight broke out off school grounds. Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Detective Greg See told The Union-Recorder following the incident that the fight was believed to have stemmed from a previous fight that took place at the high school.

When asked via email if those “issues in the community” were possibly in reference to the recent shooting incident, Price replied, “By issues in the community, I’m referring solely to the recent shooting incidents that have occurred in Baldwin County. There have been no activities or incidents in our schools that has led us to wanting to use the detectors. This is simply a proactive measure to reassure our students, staff and parents that safety and security is one of our top priorities. Just like we are installing secured vestibules and upgrading security cameras at every school. We do an excellent job of providing our students and staff with a safe and secure learning and work environment regardless of what may be happening in the community.”  

The superintendent, addressing the board, added the metal detectors would not be used on a daily basis.

“We are looking at a random approach that our students will not know when we’re going to use [them] and periodically bring them out using walk-throughs as well as handhelds and do a random check using the metal detectors,” said Price.

Because the purchase would fall below the $25,000 threshold set forth in the school district’s purchasing policy, the superintendent is able to move forward without board approval as long as certain other conditions are met.

Price said she, along with BHS administration, are just in an exploratory stage right now, and there is no timeline for when the new security practice will be implemented.

“We haven’t had any issues with weapons at our high school, but again we want to be proactive and don’t want to wait until something happens before we put safety measures in place,” the superintendent said.

Baldwin County Schools nutrition director Susan Nelson also updated the board Tuesday on the district’s contingency plan to be put in place should the city experience any more water trouble. Nelson said the Department of Public Health accepted the plan, and it is the first one of its kind for a school district in the state of Georgia.

“We have a plan in place now,” said Nelson. “We have our initial supply of emergency water in the warehouse.”

In addition to the supply of bottled water, the contingency plan states that a three-day emergency menu will be provided to all schools and that food preparation will consist of ready to eat food, prepackaged items, and/or foods not requiring water for preparation. The plan also lays out requirements for flushing drinking fountains and dumping ice, among other things.

“I want to publicly thank Mrs. Nelson for taking the initiative and following through just in case we ever have an emergency and need to put this plan into place,” Price said.

Other business handled by the board Tuesday night included:

• recognition of transportation employees for Georgia and National School Bus Safety Week;

• recognition of Baldwin High School’s cross country team;

• approval of a purchase from Robertson Industries Inc. for $97,520.76 to resurface three playgrounds at the Early Learning Center.