WILMINGTON — In light of recent events both on a national level as well as right here in New Hanover County, Board of Commissioners Chairman Woody White has announced a school safety roundtable this week.
According to a press release from New Hanover County, “The purpose of the roundtable is to discuss the current plan for school safety, how the county’s mental health resources are being integrated across schools, and what opportunities for improvement or policy gaps exist that need to be addressed.”
The meeting will include New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon, NHCS Board of Education Chair Ed Higgins, NHCS Superintendent Tim Markley, Chief District Court Judge J.H. Corpening, County Manager Chris Coudriet, Community Justice Services Director Kathy Stoute, Public Health Director Phillip Tarte, and Assistant Director of Social Work Services Wanda Marino.
“I was sworn in as a county commissioner 10 days before Sandy Hook – Dec. 14, 2012,” White said. “My first month was spent addressing the crisis that ensued, and helping the sheriff come up with the system that is in place today, to meet the security needs of our schools. So, this issue is certainly not new to me or our county, unfortunately. But recent events in Florida did lead to me to take this initiative to re-convene our community’s professionals in the areas of school safety and mental health, in order to talk about what else we can do to improve.”
Although not a public hearing, the meeting will be open to the public to watch and listen. The meeting will take place at the New Hanover County Government Center March 1, from 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.
The event will be broadcast on NHCTV as well for those who can not attend.
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