Raleigh‑Egypt principal urges county action on school safety, facility repairs

At the Feb. 27, 2005 Shelby County Public Safety ad hoc committee meeting, Kirkland Hamilton, assistant principal at Raleigh‑Egypt High School, told commissioners the school and its surrounding campus need urgent capital repairs and safety upgrades, and he asked the commission to prioritize protections for students.

Hamilton said the Raleigh‑Egypt campus—which hosts elementary, middle and high schools—has minimal school‑crossing signage and no functioning flashing lights to slow traffic during school hours. He told the committee the campus’s annex is separated by a fence that can be breached and asked for a wall between the annex and the gym to limit outside access.

On security incidents, Hamilton said school staff found three loaded firearms on campus last year and “about a hundred rounds of armor piercing bullets.” He described a widespread vape problem that metal detectors currently do not catch and said door alarms and lighting are inconsistent; he said some basement areas flood during rain and that the building has no sprinkler system. He said risk management advised that the roofs on the main building and both annexes need replacement.

Hamilton asked commissioners to consider capital improvements for Raleigh‑Egypt similar to other Shelby County schools and noted the school district told him existing capital improvement program (CIP) funds have been allocated elsewhere. He requested help from county commissioners and said he would provide a written list of needs.

Commissioner Charlie Cashwell asked Hamilton to email his requests; Cashwell said he would follow up. No formal vote or county funding decision was made during the meeting.

Hamilton said improved school facilities could reduce community spending on corrections over time, and county and city officials in the room acknowledged the connection between school investment and long‑term public safety goals.