Horry County Schools has made safety changes. Three things to know for the new school year
After dealing with multiple security issues during the previous school year, Horry County Schools has changed some rules and added new security measures.
In February, a student brought a gun into Myrtle Beach Middle School in a clear backpack. He showed it to multiple students in the bathroom before teachers noticed the student acting off. He was brought to the School Resource Officer’s (SRO) office and on the walk there, bullets fell out of his pockets.
This event spurred a group of parents to demand better security measures, specifically requesting the school district install weapons detection systems.
Later in the spring, Carolina Forest High School also dealt with multiple bomb threats in April. This disrupted class as police cleared the building, looking for an explosive.
As a response, the Horry County School District changed some security practices and implemented new rules. Here’s what to know about safety for the 2024-25 school year.
All Horry County Schools will have weapons detection systems
The school district purchased and is in the process of installing OpenGate systems at all schools, said Horry County Schools spokesperson Lisa Bourcier. Elementary schools will have one, and middle and high schools will have two.
Previously, all middle and high schools had metal detectors that students walked through to enter. Students often couldn’t wear their backpacks through the metal detectors, as they would set them off. With OpenGate systems, students only need to take out items like laptops or large binders.
Walking through OpenGate will be apart of the morning procedure at every school. Horry County Schools also bought new metal detectors for some schools, along with the OpenGate systems.
There will be two security officers at each school
While each school already has an SRO or an SSO, who are armed police officers, Horry County Schools also hired an additional unarmed security person, Bourcier said.
“(Security guards) sole job function will be people entering the building and providing instruction,” Bourcier said. “(The SSOs and SROs) rove the schools and walk the perimeter.”
The unarmed security guard will stay stationed near the front entrance of the school, Bourcier said. The school officers will watch over the whole school.
Clear backpacks are required
All students will need to bring clear plastic backpacks to school for the 2024-25 year. The backpack cannot be mesh, a translucent colored plastic or contain too many stripes or patterns, according to Horry County Schools.
There is no size requirements and students can keep items in small bags such as a lunch box or small purse. These small bags will be subject to search.
If parents are unable to afford to buy a clear backpack, Horry County Schools can provide resources to help, Bourcier said.
