School safety plan: SROs at every campus, clear‑bag policy and $1M in security investments, district says

Doctor Cornett (Speaker S7) delivered a detailed presentation on the division's safety and security strategy, saying the district aligns daily operations with strategic safety goals and will share public information while keeping technical response details confidential. "We believe that providing a safe and supportive learning environment ... is the prerequisite for all student success," Cornett said.

The presentation listed concrete measures the division has taken or will implement: assignment of a School Resource Officer to every school with memoranda of understanding to clarify roles; participation in Virginia school safety audits; a division‑wide digital surveillance network and integration of Alertus with the Raptor Emergency Management Platform for instant staff notifications; and use of the Stop It anonymous reporting app for secondary schools. Cornett said the division invested more than $1,000,000 during the 2025–26 school year on safety and security initiatives.

Cornett also announced a new clear‑bag policy for high‑school and middle‑school athletic events to begin this fall: "Only clear bags will be allowed inside athletic venues, and all bags are subject to be searched," he said. The division described reunification plans, designated reunification sites, and training undertaken for administrators and bus drivers. The presentation closed with a three‑minute safety video for families to be distributed the week of Aug. 10.

The presentation emphasized partnerships with the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, Bedford Police Department, Bedford County Fire and Rescue and the Virginia State Police for quarterly safety advisory committee meetings and operational coordination.