School Safety

At Pickens County School District the safety of our staff and students is our top priority. Just as we plan for the academic success of our students, we must also work toward creating a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

Pickens County School District has comprehensive crisis procedures in place in the event of an emergency, and we maintain consistent communication with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office, Pickens County Fire Department, and Pickens County Emergency Management as part of our safety plan. We consider our students to be our most precious resource, and we are committed to providing a safe learning environment for our staff and students.

In addition to our crisis plans, we have safety measures in place to secure our schools.

  • Each school has safety team members who are trained and assigned to assist with different duties in the event of an emergency.

  • Our buildings are locked, and all visitors must follow our check-in system which requires showing identification.

  • The schools have surveillance cameras to monitor suspicious activity.

  • Pickens County school buses are also equipped with cameras and GPS.

  • We have, at a minimum, one Campus Law Enforcement Officer in each school in our district.

  • All schools utilize the Centegix Crisis Alert system and all school staff have been issued and carry a Centegix badge.

  • All classrooms have an additional, hard wired, emergency notification system.

Safety Drills

Every school must report fire drills to the Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire Reporting System. Collaborating with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency of Homeland Security and the Georgia Department of Education, this system also manages reporting for other drills like Severe Weather Drills and Intruder Alert Drills.

  • Fire Drills are required monthly in Georgia.

  • Severe Weather Drills (which can replace a fire drill) are to be conducted in the months of February and November.

  • An Active Intruder Drill (which can replace a fire drill) shall be conducted in the month of September.

  • Bus Evacuation Drills must be conducted once per academic year and shall be conducted at the school building that houses school children.