What is Pittsylvania County Schools doing to keep our students and staff safe?
Prepared Schools
Our Division has a Crisis Management Plan that models the guidance from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Center for School and Campus Safety. Our plan includes protocols and procedures to work through safety, security, and various crises. The Division now incorporates the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) produced by the I Love You Guys Foundation into its Crisis/Emergency Management Plan. The SRP is among the best practices advocated by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Center for School and Campus Safety.
Safety Audits
Yearly safety audits are completed at all schools. These audits utilize the Virginia School Safety Inspection Checklist for Virginia Public Schools. The Crisis Management Plan is reviewed yearly and updated accordingly.
Routine Drills
• A lockdown drill is held monthly at each school.
• An unannounced lockdown drill is held at each school once a year.
• A fire drill is held monthly at each school.
• A yearly tornado drill is held at each school.
• A yearly earthquake drill is held at each school.
• Unannounced use of Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Dogs to sweep buildings and parking lots.
School Resource Officers (SRO)
We are very appreciative of our partnership with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office in securing additional school resource officers (SROs) for our schools. Currently, we have SROs in all schools with the exception of Victory Academy. Each of these schools has ongoing law enforcement presence. The Division has continuing collaborative relationships with the Sheriff’s office and the Towns of Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt Police Departments.
Intercom Electronic Door Locks and Security Vestibules
Grant funds from the Virginia Department of Education have been used to install electronic door locks with video intercom connections at all of our schools. All exterior doors are locked. Visitors must come to the front door and state the purpose of their visit by using the intercom button located on the outside of the building. School staff members inside the school will be able to monitor the video from the intercom, listen to the visitor’s purpose, and appropriately grant access to the visitor. Visitors are asked to come to the front office to complete the visitor check-in process. Your cooperation in this process is appreciated! In addition, security vestibules are constructed at all of our schools as an additional layer of protection before visitors can enter the building.
Key Swipe Locks
Certain exterior doors at each school have electronic key card activation. This allows staff to take students in and out of the building while still keeping the building secure. Key cards are given to teachers, staff, and local law enforcement as needed and can be deactivated if lost.
Visitor Tracking Procedure
All Pittsylvania County Schools now use Visitor Safe by Raptor Technologies. All visitors must present their driver’s license or state-issued ID to check in at each school. The system instantly reads their name and performs a sex offender check. Please help us keep track of visitors by bringing your driver’s license when entering the building.
Digital Video Cameras
Grant funds from the Virginia Department of Education have been used to install approximately 345 digital video cameras. All Pittsylvania County Schools have multiple digital single-lens and multi-lens video cameras installed in various parts of each building's interior and exterior. These cameras can be monitored remotely by administrators and central office staff. All School Resource Officers (SROs) can view any building at any time. Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office and the Police Departments of Chatham, Gretna, and Hurt have access to these systems in emergency situations. These cameras monitor the school 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Armoured One Anti-Ballistic Film
Beginning in September 2023, work began on the installation of anti-ballistic film on entryways at all school buildings. Funding for this project was secured from the School Security Equipment Grant. Future projects include adding film to other areas around our school campuses.
Bus Cameras
Digital cameras have been purchased and installed on all buses. Buses equipped with digital cameras will monitor the front and rear of each bus. Students will be monitored for their safety through the use of these cameras.
Digital Radios
Digital radios have been placed on all buses and at each school site, providing schools with direct communication with other school sites and all buses across the county. The radio frequency is monitored by the School Board Office, School Administration Offices, Transportation Dept., and Pittsylvania County Dispatch.