Hoover City Schools, the Hoover Police Department, and the City of Hoover worked collaboratively on a school safety message for parents ahead of the start of the new school year. 

A MESSAGE TO PARENTS

The start of any school year can bring heightened emotions: excitement, anxiousness, and for some parents, even dread. These feelings may surround the desire for success. But these days, unfortunately, they may also stem from concerns about student safety. “Will my child be safe when I send them to school?”  We at Hoover City Schools (HCS), the Hoover Police Department, and the City of Hoover want to reassure you – your child’s safety is our top priority.

In Hoover, every school building has a School Resource Officer (SRO) that is a member of the Hoover Police Department. The SROs will be ready to go on day one at each Hoover School. Our SROs have attended training and continuing education classes over the summer with a particular focus on keeping your children, their teachers, and school administrators safe. School safety is a team effort. If you or your child sees something suspicious or threatening-whether on campus or online- don’t just walk by or scroll past it-tell a teacher, a school official, or an SRO.

Over the summer, in addition to reviewing student data and implementing engaging and individualized instructional strategies, HCS district leaders have also focused on another high priority, which is safety in our classrooms. Each school has thorough safety protocols and crisis management plans in the event of an emergency, and school administrators have reviewed and updated their plans for the 2022-2023 school year. HCS routinely partners with the City of Hoover and Hoover police and fire officials in a collaborative effort to ensure that HCS safety protocols are efficient, effective, and streamlined. In cooperation with Hoover Police, district leaders have performed threat assessments over the summer at each campus to identify and address potential weak spots and areas of vulnerability. While we do not think it’s wise to share specific details of HCS safety plans, we can assure you that there have been security upgrades at our schools to enhance student protection. Severe weather safety protocols have also been reviewed and updated at the district and school levels.

We believe our children’s safety is a collaborative effort between home, schools, law enforcement, and the community. We pray for a successful, safe, and productive school year, and thank you for entrusting us with your most valuable possessions — your children.