Catoosa County school leaders urge parents to lock guns, monitor phones to protect students

Superintendent Nicks and Sheriff Gary Sisk urged parents in Catoosa County to secure firearms and closely monitor children’s phones in a recorded message to families, saying those steps can prevent accidents and help stop threats to students.

The appeal, delivered by school and law-enforcement leaders, stressed everyday actions parents can take to reduce risk on campuses and at home. "At home, it's crucial to secure any firearms and carefully monitor your child's phone activity," Superintendent Nicks said. "These small steps make a huge difference in protecting them and their friends."

The message framed safe storage and prompt reporting as preventive measures. "As sheriff, my top priority is the safety of our children," Sheriff Gary Sisk said. "Keeping guns out of the hands of children starts with safe storage. Ensure all firearms are locked away securely and ammunition is stored separately." He added that concerning posts or conversations discovered on social media should be reported to law enforcement immediately and said parents should call 911 for emergencies.

A teacher who spoke in the recording urged families to review phones and discuss responsible use. "Phones are a powerful tool, but only when used safely," the teacher said. School staff also asked students and families to report suspicious behavior to school administrators, counselors or law enforcement so officials can respond quickly.

A parent in the message described a phone-monitoring app and directed viewers to a QR code shown on the screen. "There's an app that I use and if you'll take a minute you can scan the QR code that's on the screen and then you'll have access to the app too," the parent said. Officials did not provide the app name or additional technical details in the recording.

Sheriff Sisk closed by noting the scope of the district’s student population in the appeal: "By each of us working together as one big team, we have the power to ensure the safety of our 10,000 kids. Together, we can keep our kids safe." The message was advisory; no formal policy changes, votes or directives were recorded during the message.

Officials asked that parents who see threats or alarming behavior report them immediately to school staff or law enforcement and to call 911 in emergencies. The recording emphasized coordination among families, teachers and law enforcement as the primary strategy promoted in the message.