VIRGINIA, USA — As students across Hampton Roads head back to class, school districts are putting safety at the forefront with new technology, more staff and stronger partnerships with law enforcement.
From upgraded cameras and access systems to additional security officers and app-based emergency reporting, leaders in Virginia Beach and Portsmouth Public Schools say their goal is simple: to make sure students, staff, and families feel and stay safe.
Portsmouth: More officers, stronger community bonds
Portsmouth Public Schools has added more security personnel across the district this year, with two full-time officers in every elementary school, three in middle schools and five at each high school.
James Webster, the district’s Coordinator of Safety and Security and a former FBI special agent, says Portsmouth was already ahead of the game when it came to technology and training. “When I got to Portsmouth, they were ahead of the game with technology,” Webster said. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve already increased security in the elementary schools … we are very, very much aware of the potential for danger and are trying to be proactive in heading that off.”…