JONESBORO — During a Sept. 19 Superintendent’s Editorial Breakfast Meeting, Clayton County School Superintendent Anthony Smith outlined his top priorities — with safety topping the list.
“Safety is it,” Smith said. “Kids gotta come home safe. It means nothing if they have a 4.0 if you’re being bullied every day or if you’re in danger.”
Clayton County Public Schools was rocked by a shooting during an attempted robbery in the Tara Stadium parking lot after the season-opening Jonesboro-Mt. Zion football game.
During the incident, the victim — a Dutchtown senior — was shot.
In another recent incident, a student attacked a teacher at North Clayton High School, which the school system is investigating.
After the Tara Stadium shooting, the school system put enhanced safety measures in place and Smith reiterated in the Sept. 19 meeting that violence will not be tolerated in Clayton County schools.
“We’re going to hold kids accountable,” Smith said. “Where in this society have we gotten away from holding folks accountable?”
The school system recently held a Stop the Violence forum for at-risk students, and a series targeting parents is in the works.
“Just like we’re going to be tough with students, we’re going to be tough with parents too,” Smith said. “No more coming on campus, treating our staff, treating our teachers any old way, coming on campus looking any old way. We’ve got to make certain that our community understands that the school environment is a sacred environment.”
Smith added that the school system is sending a “strong message” to parents, but he emphasized that everyone across the board will be held accountable — students, teachers, and parents.
The school system can’t do it alone, Smith said, but needs to form partnerships in the community — families, law enforcement, court…
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