Columbia, S.C. – State Superintendent of Education Molly M. Spearman announced the formation of a Safe Schools Taskforce comprised of educators, law enforcement officials, and parents. The taskforce will examine best practices for student discipline as well as training for educators and law enforcement on appropriate procedures to adopt ensuring a safe school climate throughout the state.
“School safety is my number one priority as State Superintendent of Education,” said Spearman. “In order for all students to be prepared for success after high school, the school environment must be one of trust, respect, and order. By bringing together all stakeholders, we want to ensure that school communities have the best resources available, the proper procedures in place, and the appropriate training,” concluded Spearman.
The Safe Schools Taskforce will examine current policies and training models. The taskforce consists of the following members:
| Name |
Organization |
| Molly M. Spearman |
State Superintendent of Education, co-chair |
| Tracy Young-Cooper |
Chair of State Board of Education, co-chair |
| Tom Hudson |
South Carolina School Improvement Council |
| James Blake |
Northwestern High School |
| Joy Grayson |
South Carolina Parent Teacher Association |
| Tonya Robinson |
South Carolina Parent Teacher Association |
| Zona Jefferson |
South Carolina Alliance of Black School Educators |
| Beth Phibbs |
South Carolina Association of School Administrators |
| Scott Turner |
Spartanburg District Five, SC Association of School Administrators |
| Scott Price |
South Carolina School Boards Association |
| Robert Gantt |
Richland Lexington Five, South Carolina School Boards Association |
| Tiffany Richardson |
South Carolina School Boards Association |
| Zina Harper |
South Carolina Association of School Resource Officers |
| Cleveland Smith |
Richland School District Two |
| Jarrod Bruder |
South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association |
| Major Roger Owens |
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division |
| Craig King |
Palmetto State Teachers Association |
| Bernadette Hampton |
South Carolina Education Association |
| Captain E.J. Talbot, Jr. |
South Carolina Department of Public Safety |
| Alan Walter |
Georgetown County School District |
| Rita Yarborough |
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy |
The taskforce conducted its first meeting on Tuesday, November 17th at the South Carolina Department of Education. Presentations were made on district and school discipline policy adoption as well as positive behavior interventions plans. The taskforce agreed that a review of state standards for student conduct and disciplinary enforcement procedures should be examined in detail in order to determine the best procedures for students, teachers, administrators, and school resource officers in the event of an incident within the classroom. Future meetings will take place in the coming months, and a press conference will be held at the appropriate time when the work has concluded.
All media inquiries regarding the taskforce’s work should be directed to Dino Teppara at the South Carolina Department of Education, dteppara@ed.sc.gov.
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