Greensboro, N.C. - More than 100 students joined Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley in High Point today to discuss school safety. Earlier this week, Oakley announced four additional strategies to address school safety, including greater student engagement and leadership.

“We cannot address school safety without listening to our students. I am thankful to the dozens of student leaders who answered the call to join me to discuss how to best foster healthy and safe schools,” said Oakley. “When students are safe and when they feel safe, they perform better in school.”

Feedback from students included the need for more mental health support, stronger relationships with adults, improvement of school facilities and additional teachers and safety staff. Additionally, students expressed their desire to continue to have a voice in discussions to address complex challenges impacting schools.

At the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Dr. Oakley also announced the expansion of the school safety office, staffing incentives for athletic events and anti-bullying training for staff. These additional strategies are a part of the comprehensive school safety plan Guilford County Schools is implementing this year.

About Guilford County Schools 

Guilford County Schools, the third-largest school district in North Carolina and the 50th largest of more than 14,000 in the United States, serves nearly 70,000 PK-12 students at 126 schools. With approximately 9,800 employees, GCS works in partnership with parents, businesses, colleges, and the community to deliver an education that connects student interests and skills with the careers and economy of our future here and around the world. We provide educational choices to meet individual student needs in a culturally diverse citizenship and new opportunities to help our students. For more information, visit the district’s website at www.gcsnc.com.