By A Cobb Mom
Mornings at my house are a rush, trying to get the kids ready for school. One needs an extra snack for chorus practice, another needs an early wake-up for a club meeting — acting as an alarm clock for a middle schooler is no easy task.
It feels like the North Pole outside, but it will be a battle whether my teen wears a jacket or shorts. Amid the chaos and flutter of clothes, I make breakfast, sign permission slips, organize pick-ups, and remind the kids — or they remind me — about tests and projects coming up.
After a whirlwind morning, Here Comes the Bus (cobbk12.org/page/19019/here-comes-the-bus) and off they go to school. Parents, like me, have a lot to juggle, think about, remember, and plan for every day. Thankfully, because I live in Cobb and my children go to Cobb schools, school safety is one thing I can leave to the experts.
Safety
Of course, safety is always at the top of my mind, just as it is for those leading Cobb Schools. It influences where I live, how my child gets to school, and the trust I place in their education. That’s why I’m grateful my children attend school in the Cobb County School District, where safety isn’t just a policy — it’s a promise.
Schools have changed since my days as a student, and while the news often reminds me of the dangers out there, Cobb’s commitment to safety gives me confidence. It has been more than 25 years since the school shooting at Columbine forever changed the way students experience school.
Instead of just tornado and fire drills, my children are now prepared to react, like muscle memory, in the case of a crisis because their schools conduct routine active shooter drills or code red drills.
Admittedly, the negative effects of social media scare me. It has introduced challenges my parents never had to face. Social media is a mischievous friend that causes trouble inside and outside the school building. False information and threats spread rapidly online, especially after the terrible incident in Barrow County that triggered a storm of fake threats in Cobb schools. These threats, even when false, create stress and fear for students and parents alike. I was relieved to learn that the Cobb school board is advocating for stronger criminal penalties (cobbk12.org/_ci/p/107394) against those who threaten schools.
The Cobb school board is also pushing the state to approve better protection against substances like THC and vape products. The vaping issue is particularly concerning. Vaping devices, often disguised as everyday items, can easily make their way into my kids’ schools. It’s reassuring to know that Cobb is addressing this head-on, pushing for legislation (cobbk12.org/_ci/p/107394) to limit access and raise awareness about the dangers of vaping. These proactive steps will help create a healthier and safer environment for all students.
I teach my kids that bullying is wrong, and I appreciate how Cobb’s Expect Respect program and Superintendent Christopher Ragsdale’s zero-tolerance policy reinforce this value. His stance on bullying is clear: “Bullying is real, and we take it very seriously. We do not allow bullying of any type. Regardless of what the nature of the bullying is. We address it head-on. We address it quickly.”
Thankfully, Cobb also recognizes and cares about the mental well-being of students, providing support through school counselors, psychologists, and programs like Sources of Strength, which empowers students to support one another.
Seeing my child and other students step up to help classmates makes my heart happy. Not only does it show how much Cobb students care, but it also shows how our schools are building up tomorrow’s leaders.
It’s also reassuring to see Cobb working to address students’ mental health needs early. In fact, prevention is a major focus of Cobb’s safety initiatives. As Superintendent Ragsdale said recently, “Cobb is one of the first in the nation to actually implement a systems-based approach in helping to identify issues before they become problems and problems before they become tragedies.”
Security
Cobb is constantly upgrading and testing new technology to keep schools safe, and those enhancements are made possible because of the community’s $35-million annual commitment to school safety (cobbk12.org/_ci/p/105458). “I don’t think you can put a price tag on safety, especially when you’re talking about a child’s safety or a staff member’s safety. I don’t think you can put a price tag on that,” Superintendent Ragsdale shared during one safety talk.
That’s why another school board priority (cobbk12.org/_ci/p/107394) for the state legislature is to maintain, if not increase, school safety and security funding.
In Cobb, those tax dollars allocated to school safety back the advanced security technology embedded in Cobb schools, some of which I see at my kids’ schools and others I don’t. At the local high school’s football game, my family and our neighbors are safeguarded against outside dangers by the same cutting-edge screening system used at places like the Georgia Aquarium, FOX Theatre, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In addition to the AI-powered detection system that screens up to 1,000 students in 15 minutes, I also see the Cobb Schools police officers and some of the cameras. I also go through the school ID checks needed to enter my kids’ schools. But I know there is an extra layer of protection for the schools that I cannot see.
It’s natural to want detailed safety plans and to look behind the curtain to see the concealed layer of protection, but I understand that could compromise their effectiveness. It would make my children less safe. That’s not what I want.
What I do know is that there are teams of people working behind the scenes to keep my children and their friends safe. Knowing Cobb partners with members of the national intelligence community (cobbk12.org/_ci/p/105458) and collaborates and trains routinely with local and national law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (cobbk12.org/_ci/p/105718), gives me peace of mind.
There’s a lot of scary stuff in the news about what may happen, could happen, threatened to happen, and in tragic cases like Columbine and Barrow County, did happen at schools.
Yes, those things live in the back of my mind, but I also know the people of Cobb. I’ve met the police officers who greet our students with fist bumps every morning but are ready to run toward danger to protect students and staff. I read about the police officers who take a break to read to students, mentor a struggling student, or take students in need shopping for presents. Many are parents themselves. They’re law enforcement veterans whose experience spans decades in Cobb and beyond. It’s comforting to know that their 1,690 years of combined service are shielding my children from danger, inside and outside the school building.
I feel safe sending my children to school because I know Cobb’s shield of protection extends beyond the 80-plus school police officers. If something happens on campus — whether it’s a medical emergency or a security concern, it’s reassuring to know that my kids’ teachers can immediately press a crisis alert button on their badge, and help will be on the way. This immediate response capability is a testament to Cobb’s commitment to preparedness.
Trust
It also helps that I know my children’s principals, principals who I trust will contact me if something concerning has happened and let me know how it is being handled. I know that I may not hear right away. That is okay. I know they don’t want to share inaccurate information. And, in the heat of a crisis, whether it’s a reported threat or a problem with the air conditioning system, I want them to focus on keeping my children and their teachers safe. I know they will send accurate information as quickly as possible.
My role as a parent is vital, too. By keeping my contact information current, I receive important updates through the Cobb Teaching and Learning System (CTLS) about my children’s school day, including any safety alerts. The District’s communication channels and CTLS are lifelines for parents like me. I urge other parents to update their details and actively check these channels so we all stay in the loop with accurate and timely information. Simple actions like these make a big difference.
Although I hope never to have to use it, I can report safety concerns to the District’s tip line (cobbk12-ga.safeschoolsalert.com), and the concerns will be immediately investigated.
Seeing all the volunteers supporting and mentoring students at my children’s schools has shown me firsthand how much the district values parental involvement. As parents, we invest our time, trust, and resources into our children’s education. Cobb Schools amplify that investment by creating a secure environment where students can thrive academically and socially.
Superintendent Ragsdale’s decade-long commitment to safety, even in the face of criticism, strengthens my trust that everything possible is being done to protect Cobb’s children. His leadership has positioned Cobb as a national leader in school safety by prioritizing prevention strategies, such as maintaining a strong police presence, securing critical funding, equipping officers with essential resources, and implementing innovative tools like the crisis alert system. His forward-thinking approach, including partnerships with members of the intelligence community to stay “left of launch,” ensures the district remains proactive in safeguarding students and staff.
Thanks to Superintendent Ragsdale, Cobb’s safety efforts are extensive, but the unwavering focus on prevention stands out to me most. From addressing small issues early to implementing large-scale security enhancements, District leaders know, and security experts agree, that staying ahead of potential threats is key. This proactive mindset reassures me as a parent and reminds me of the importance of staying vigilant.
As a parent, I trust schools to educate my children, strengthen their social skills needed to succeed in life, and, most importantly, keep them safe. In Cobb, that trust is earned daily by dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators who create a learning environment where students can thrive. Their unwavering commitment to safety and student success reminds me why I choose to live in Cobb County and send my children to the Cobb County School District.
Cobb is the best place to teach, lead, and learn because the District is safe and secure.
