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Aug 13, 2023

Rockingham County Schools adds cameras to school buses

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Students in Rockingham County Schools will notice safety upgrades inside buildings and school buses in the 2023-2024 school year.

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

Students in Rockingham County Schools will notice safety upgrades inside buildings and school buses in the 2023-2024 school year.

Superintendent, John Stover said the district has always had an extensive camera system and received federal grants to fund new projects to upgrade safety and security even further.

"We upgraded all of our buses they have cameras on the bus both inside and outside, we can see the stop arm violators very clearly. We also have the ability to know where any bus is at anytime and the driver will have an i-pad with turn by turn directions," stated Stover.

Stover added they are focusing on more security as people enter the buildings. "Ensuring all our schools have safety lobbies, so there's a barrier of protection when someone comes in, we buzz them in and we assess them as well."

Rockingham County Schools added a brand new position this school year, a Director of School Safety to keep it a main priority.

Also, to keep mental health a main focus, they are hiring for a Director of Behavioral Health Specialist. "Our teachers are more aware of the mental health of our kids, they know the sings of what to look for and mechanisms if we think a kid is struggling to check on them." He added, "We have team meetings, it's part of the fabric we talk about kids, academically, how they're doing emotionally and how they're doing socially."

Project Aware is a five year grant to strengthen mental health support and Stover said it runs out in September, but they applied for it again the next three years to continue to make a positive difference in students' lives.

As far as staffing goes, Stover said it was a huge challenge last year, but he's optimistic moving forward on filling all vacancies, mostly in elementary schools.

Click the video player below to watch Superintendent John Stover's welcome back message to Rockingham County students and families.