Hamilton County Schools needs to put a stop to the recent string of school burglaries, and board Chairman Kenny Smith wants to see a detailed prevention plan.
At a Hamilton County Board of Education meeting Thursday night, Mr. Smith asked Superintendent Jim Scales to present the board with a detailed list of ways the administration is making buildings safer.
“It is totally unacceptable to have this equipment walk out the door,” Mr. Smith said. “It’s an embarrassment to all of us. Before we talk about budgets, we need to get a handle on this.”
Thieves recently broke into Howard School of Academics and Technology twice, stealing 29 computers. On Tuesday night, someone broke into Normal Park Museum Magnet’s Lower School and stole a handful of computers, while vandalizing the building. There have been at least a dozen burglaries at county schools since last summer, officials have said.
Board member Rhonda Thurman said she wanted Dr. Scales to inform the board when such burglaries take place.
“I didn’t have a clue our schools were having these kinds of problems,” she said. “Again, the board was blindsided.”
Dr. Scales said administrators always contact the police, who often put out media releases. He said he would present a security plan at the board’s upcoming facilities meeting.