Last week, for the first time, an armed officer provided protection at a meeting of the Georgetown County School Board.

That is just one of many steps that have been taken — and are planned — to make the School District as safe as possible, said Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier.

He told the school board he has been touring all the schools to try to see what can be done to “at least slow somebody up” who is trying to get into the buildings for criminal purposes.

“We can always improve the access points,” Dozier said.

He said he will be making recommendations for the board to consider in the very near future. Most of the suggestions are expected to be ways to improve the security at the front of the facilities.

“I don’t want to put up barriers but that is kind of what we have to do,” Dozier told the board.

One thing he is already recommending is bullet proof glass in many of the windows throughout the district.

He said he expects the security upgrades to take place thus summer.

Besides facility renovations, Dozier said there will be an increased police presence.

School board meetings are not the only things receiving police protection.

“Any event we have where the public will be in attendance will have security. School principals have been working with me on that,” Dozier said.

Georgetown County schools have been ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting campuses.

In 2007, the district received the state school safety award from the South Carolina School Boards Insurance Trust because the district had taken measures such as placing security cameras in schools and the implementation and use of a buzzer system at the front door of each school.

The district began using the buzz-in system in 2005. Last month, the Horry County School District announced it was adding buzzers to the doors of all of its schools.

By Scott Harper

sharper@igtowntimes.com