HAMLET — Parents and educators raised ongoing safety concerns during the school board’s January meeting, urging officials to consider relocating Monroe Avenue Elementary School to the Ninth Grade Academy.
Several speakers described repeated incidents of nearby gun violence and lockdowns, saying the school’s location has created an environment where students and staff regularly fear for their safety.
“Parents understand that all schools have safety measures and plans in place to execute if and when needed. However, because of the location and the repetitive gun violence, we feel it is only a matter of time before MAES has to put the worst case scenario actions into play,” said parent Jackie Huggins. “It then turns into real life and we have no choice but to be reactive. No teacher should have to fight to that extent to keep our children safe.”
Huggins said families who have experienced lockdowns understand the emotional toll those situations take.
“If you’ve ever worked at Richmond County Schools where you’ve had lockdowns, then I’m sure as a parent, as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, you know what it feels like to get that phone call — it really tears at your heart,” she said. “For those of you who have never been through that, you have no idea what it’s like as a parent to get that phone call — that there are shootings on the playground, shootings on campus, shootings in the woods. But wait for it, at the end of those phone calls, we are always hit with safety for our students is our top priority, but is it?”
Huggins said parents were told last year that Monroe Avenue Elementary would be relocated, a possibility that initially brought relief.
“We were so hopeful and had a little sense of relief that our children can go to what is supposed to be their home away from home — their safe place, a place to learn, a place to grow and a place to thrive and feel included in many different ways,” she said.
While acknowledging that the Ninth Grade Academy building is undergoing renovations, Huggins said safety concerns should remain the priority.
“Building issues need to be addressed — we get that. But who is going to address parents who come pick up their children one day, wait for their name to be called to get their kid and there’s a long silence because the situation has turned unfortunate,” she said.
Huggins also questioned decision-making around school locations.
“When these shootings occur year after year, people start to question who is making these decisions to keep the children where they are. Who’s making the decision to move children to certain places. I know that LJ Bell is a pretty prominent area, but I don’t understand why that building trumps the safety of our children,” she said.
She added that she would like parents to be presented with a survey to share feedback with the board and said a petition signed by “hundreds” of community members has been submitted requesting consideration of relocating Monroe Avenue Elementary to the Ninth Grade Academy.
Heather James, the school counselor at Monroe Avenue Elementary, also spoke in favor of relocation, emphasizing the emotional toll on students and staff.
“As a school counselor I’ve been empowered to support the social, emotional wellbeing of our students and staff. That responsibility matters deeply to me,” James said. “However, it is incredibly difficult to do that work when repeated safety concerns are outside of our control. In those moments, it can feel powerless to help students feel safe when the environment itself continues to place them at risk.”
James also read a statement from Portia McDonald, a member of the school community, describing multiple incidents experienced during her time at Monroe Avenue Elementary.
“During my time at Monroe Avenue, I’ve experienced numerous lockdowns and shelter in place situations. Here are just a few. I’ve had a suspect run directly past me on the playground while being chased by police— all while students were outside. I’ve witnessed nearby homes being raided during the school day within walking distance of the building. Last year, after dismissal, we were once again placed again in a shelter in place,” read McDonald’s statement.
McDonald’s statement also described an incident involving a staff member’s vehicle.
“During that incident, a school counselor who was temporarily assigned to our school later discovered that her car had been struck by a bullet lodged in the engine — this was not a hypothetical threat — this was a real physical risk to staff and students,” the statement read.
McDonald detailed what she described as one of the most traumatic events on campus.
“The most traumatic incident occurred while students were on the playground when guns were fired nearby. Children panicked and ran toward the building, unsure of where the shots came from or where the danger was. As we reached the door, secured by a keypad at the time, students in fear began pressing random numbers just trying to get inside. This locked us out completely,” McDonald said. “While I worked to reset the system, children were crying, screaming and begging to be let in. One staff member was so terrified that she wet herself in fear. To this day, I’m still unable to get the sound of the screaming, terrified children out of my head. These situations place our school community in constant proximity to danger and they have lasting effects on both students and staff.”
McDonald said the experiences have continued to affect her.
“I now attend therapy to process the trauma associated with these experiences. If these events impacted me so deeply as an adult, I cannot begin to imagine the toll they take on our children,” she said.
“Our students deserve more than emergency procedures and emergency responses — they deserve a safe, secure environment where learning, not fear, is the focus,” her statement read.
James concluded McDonald’s statement by reiterating the request for relocation.
“Relocating Monroe Avenue to the Ninth Grade Academy would place our students and staff in a facility better equipped to provide safety, stability and peace of mind,” James said. “The urgency you’re hearing tonight is rooted in safety and the emotional wellbeing for our students and staff. We understand the weight of this decision and we ask you consider the cost of waiting. Our students deserve to learn in an environment where fear is not a regular part of their school experience.”
Loni Wilkerson, a third-grade teacher at Monroe Avenue Elementary, also addressed the board, sharing concerns from an educator who chose to remain anonymous.
“It has happened multiple times in just this year and each time it takes a toll on our students, our staff and our community. I’m asking you to please reconsider the pause in our relocation to 9th grade academy. I urge you to think about what it means to give the students at Monroe a truly a safe place to learn and grow,” Wilkerson said.