Conversations focused on the safety of students, staff and administration have become more prevalent across the United States.

CNN reported that as of Dec.  16, there have been 83 school shootings in the United States in 2024.

According to The National Center for Education, 857,500 violent incidents and 479,500 nonviolent incidents were recorded by public schools in the 2021-22 school year.

With these statistics, schools around the United States have implemented practices to increase safety for those who are in the building on a day-to-day basis.

In Lexington One, there is a safety team that includes a director of safety and emergency services, two coordinators of safety and emergency services, a full-time hearing officer and a district-level safety team to supervise and implement safety initiatives.

Lexington One also has individualized school safety plans, which include a detailed safety plan and required check-ins at the front for visitors including automated checks against sex offender registries.

School resources officers (SROs) are at all schools, phones are accessible in every classroom and security cameras with video and audio are installed throughout schools and on buses.

Similar to Lexington One, Lexington Two has SROs at each school and have partnerships with law enforcement agencies in the area such as the Cayce Department of Public Safety, West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Springdale Police Department and Pine Ridge Police Department.

Lexington Two provides personnel and training for employees, lockdown buttons and an electronic emergency alert system, security cameras and radios. Lexington Two schools also utilize Raptor Alert, a silent alert system that employees can access through electronic devices and Behavioral Threat Assessment Management, an assessment that distinguishes threats or issues.

In November 2023, Lexington Three received grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services, also known as the COPS Office.

At Lexington Four, visitors must always be escorted by a district employee. Additionally, all visitors must be listed as the student’s legal guardian or listed on an emergency contact list. All visitors must present a valid picture ID.

At Lexington-Richland Five, all schools have at least one full-time SRO and have full-time safety officers who work with law enforcement. Schools conduct more than 360 drills, where students and staff are prepared in the event of an emergency and understand what steps to take.

Lexington-Richland Five also provides training for staff to be prepared and assist students.

Although some measures are shared with the public, many parts are confidential.

These plans that are set in place by each district aim to prevent or minimize the effects of emergencies, keeping staff, students and administrators safe.