CCS has approved 2.1 million dollars for security improvements at county schools with some of the money coming from a recently approved grant that was applied for by CCS Art Director and County Spokesperson Mr. Kelly Jones.

The May 24 murder of 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, “does create more of a sense of urgency” about security, but local school officials have been planning the upgrades for a year, the superintendent said.

Associate Superintendent Jonathan Williams presented to the board, school violence prevention grants will fund more than $500,000 of the project. Pandemic educational relief funds will provide almost $1,156,000. Columbus County Schools’ capital outlay funds will cover about $443,000

The county will also be able to monitor schools remotely, allowing them to lock doors that were left open with “a click of a button”.