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Sumner County board approves districtwide school‑safety training contract
Summary
The Sumner County School Board voted to fund a districtwide, evidence‑based safety training for staff — an outside 3‑hour program recommended by administrators and praised by principals — authorizing payment at roughly $25 per person to train thousands of employees.
The Sumner County School Board voted on Jan. 21 to approve funding for a districtwide school‑safety training program that administrators say is evidence‑based and effective for staff at all levels.
Director Robert Langford and safety staff described the three‑hour program, presented by outside trainers with law‑enforcement and defense experience, as a practical, non‑traumatizing curriculum that equips teachers and staff with preventive measures and response planning. Officials said the training has been used in other districts and that administrators who attended pilot sessions considered it high quality.
Board member Mr. Evans moved to approve the training contract; Miss Brittney seconded. The motion passed by a voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Safety staff described the program's scope and logistics: district leaders plan sessions to reach roughly 6,000 employees and estimated a per‑person cost in the neighborhood of $25, which administrators called a good value for in‑person instruction versus cheaper, video‑based alternatives. The district also plans ongoing refreshers and school‑level reviews of procedures tied to lockdown drills.
Board members emphasized the importance of evidence and the practical value of the training. "When you have a room of principals and SROs and you could hear a pin drop for about three hours, then it tells you it's hitting hard," Langford said. Several board members and staff urged that the county commission and other local stakeholders also be invited to observe.
The board’s approval authorizes staff to finalize contracting and scheduling; administrators said they will notify school leaders and staff and aim to publish training dates once logistics are firm.
