Lexington 1 presents inaugural safety, mental-health and services report after parent testimonies

Several parents told the Lexington County School District One board on Sept. 16 that more must be done to keep students safe, and Superintendent Keith Price presented the district’s first annual update on safety, health and services in response.

“My objective tonight is to talk about student safety student safety by implementing 3 low cost, high impact procedures,” public commenter Shannon Anderson told the board, urging a preapproved lunch‑visitor list, enforced identification via the entry intercom, and a no‑tailgating policy to reduce unauthorized access to campuses. Another speaker, Denny, described a personal incident involving a child who tested positive for multiple substances after school and said, “My child could have overdosed,” and asked the board for greater adult visibility in middle‑ and high‑school bathrooms and more proactive supports.

In his presentation, Superintendent Price framed the district’s approach around partnership and prevention. “Tonight, I bring to you our first or inaugural annual update on safety, health, and services,” he said, and outlined activities from the prior school year: more than 5,000 law‑enforcement‑supported events (primarily athletics) costing roughly $158,000, completion of more than 1,200 camera upgrades, full rollout of an alert system to employees, active‑shooter training for all campuses, installation of vape detectors in middle and high schools, and routine threat‑assessment trainings.

Price also summarized mental‑health activity and supports: counts of suicide screeners and on‑site counseling sessions, social‑worker referrals and partnerships with outside providers to deliver on‑site services; the district identified 171 students eligible for McKinney‑Vento services so far this year and noted the education foundation distributed more than $135,000 in assistance last school year.

Board members responded by asking for sustained, structured work. Several trustees urged the board to hold a workshop or form a committee to examine policy gaps — particularly how technology, mental health, and building‑level practices intersect with safety — and to produce concrete next steps rather than ad hoc responses. Vice Chair Miss Shealy and others discussed options including targeted policy reviews, adding student engagement strategies such as peer reporting, and scheduling a workshop before the end of the year.

The presentation did not include new binding board actions; Price concluded by inviting questions and offering to provide follow‑up detail on specific metrics and partner agreements. Staff and several trustees said they would return with more granular plans and timelines for any policy changes or new operational measures.

The board’s next steps are expected to include a focused workshop or series of meetings to set priorities and identify whether policy changes, additional staff, or new vendor agreements are required to implement the public commenters’ suggestions and the superintendent’s recommendations.