White Bluff resident urges district to equip teachers with security lanyards after Georgia shooting

Connie Reed, a White Bluff resident, told the Dickson County Board of Education on Dec. 19 that she wants the district to buy security lanyards for teachers that trigger immediate alerts to school resource officers and authorities.

Reed said she learned about the devices after an active‑shooter incident at Apalachee School in Barrow County, Georgia. "My niece is a teacher in Georgia. She was at our home on Thanksgiving, and she had her lanyard with her. She was happy to show it to us, and she showed us how it's just a button. That's all you do is push it," Reed said.

Reed told the board a donor is willing to pay for lanyards for both White Bluff schools and asked the board to get a price and allow the donor to fund the purchase. "I believe that once we get the ball rolling, more donors will step up to cover the cost for the rest of our schools," she said.

Board members did not take formal action during the public comment period. Board chair and staff directions: Reed asked staff to provide pricing for lanyards for the White Bluff schools; she said she wanted the board to consider accepting donor funds for that purchase. No formal vote or procurement decision was recorded in the meeting minutes for this item.

Why it matters: Reed framed her request as a response to a recent active‑shooter incident and as a proactive safety measure. She acknowledged no device can completely prevent violence but said the lanyards have improved teachers' sense of security in other districts.

Next steps: Reed asked the board to "look at this, get me a price for the purchase of the lanyards for the White Bluff Schools, and allow my donor to fund it." The transcript records the request but does not record a board vote or staff commitment to purchase at the meeting.