What are local schools doing to protect students?

The Columbine anniversary prompted us to take a closer look at what local school officials do to protect our students.

Brunswick and New Hanover County schools have school resource officers stationed at every middle and high school on a daily basis. Some schools in Pender County have to share resource officers.

Resource officers are responsible for developing security checks and undergoing hours of training in case an intruder makes their way on campus.

Brunswick County schools also have two school lockdown drills a year. “Rather them have us and not need us than not have us and need us,” Brunswick County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Fennell said. “We hope we never have to be put in that situation, but we are the first line of defense if anything actually happens in the school.”

School resource officers in Brunswick County will undergo SWAT team training next month.