Gettys D. Broome High School

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Spartanburg School District Three's commitment to keep our students and staff safe has been and continues to be a top priority for our administration and the Board of Trustees.

Since the tragic school shooting last week in Georgia, schools around the nation and the state of South Carolina have been the target of threatening messages circulating on social media. The social media posts appear to be a trend across the state and nation and are consuming law enforcement and school resources as we all investigate. We are committed to doing everything we can to investigate, be transparent, be vigilant, and communicate with you. The safety measures identified below are the things we do daily and not just when a potential crisis is on the horizon.

At this time, high schools are the target of the messages being shared on social media. Broome High School has protocols in place to keep students safe. A clear bag policy was implemented in 2023-24. There are metal detectors that all students, visitors, parents, and employees must walk through before entering the building. There are also armed security guards in addition to an armed SRO, a district coordinator of safety and emergency services who monitors all daily activity and works closely with law enforcement, interior and exterior security cameras, and staff who monitor the halls and common areas. Our staff receives up-to-date safety training; all classroom doors remain closed and locked throughout the day; protocols and procedures are reviewed annually; and drills are conducted annually. All exterior doors at Broome remain locked throughout the day, and after the morning tardy bell, everyone is required to continue entering through the front doors where metal detectors and armed security guards are stationed throughout the day.

In a press release from the Sheriff’s Office this morning, the following was stated:

Unfortunately, since the recent tragedy in Georgia, some individuals have taken to social media to spread fear and disrupt schools across the nation. The Sheriff’s Office asks parents and guardians to help by having conversations with their students to explain the seriousness of threats to schools and of adding to the circulation of rumors. It is helpful for students to report concerning information directly to law enforcement and school administration but not to post, alter, or repost them on social media.

This school year we introduced a new mobile app called STOPit. The app is available for parents and students to use to report things like school threats. I applaud the students and parents who used this app to report these current threats to administrators and law enforcement. This is the best way for law enforcement and administrators to take swift action to keep our students safe.