New Crisis Alert System In CMS High Schools

Security upgrades and a change in leadership as more than 148 thousand students head back to class today in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Parents and students will notice a new crisis alert system. The automated system will be installed in each of the District’s High Schools. It can send school-wide alerts for lock-downs, evacuations, and severe weather.

Warning lights in each classroom flash a different color depending on the level of emergency. School staff will have panic cards to trigger the system when there’s an emergency.

Other security upgrades include:

• Two new police K9s trained in narcotic and firearm detection patrolling schools.
• Safety screenings at all High Schools and some Middle Schools.
• Active survival training for all employees.
• As well as upgraded locks and stronger doors.

With the new school year also comes a new superintendent.

The School Board voted unanimously to move Earnest Winston into the role after it suspended Dr. Clayton Wilcox last month and he resigned.

Winston tells WCCB Charlotte, he’s focused on fixing problems in the District to keep kids safe.

Winston is the District’s sixth Superintendent in the past ten years. Superintendent Winston is greeting bus drivers at the Orr Road bus lost this morning…

One security change Winston is making is fingerprinting new hires. It’s one issue the school board said got put on pause when Wilcox was in the role. Since Winston has taken over more than two-thirds of employee fingerprinting is complete.

A lot of new teachers will also head to classrooms along with students tomorrow. CMS says, 99% of teach vacancies have been filled, so it doesn’t face a shortage like in years past. Overall the District employs more than 19 thousand staff members.