Dothan City Leaders, school leaders look to improve school safety

DOTHAN, AL (WSFA) - Dothan city officials plan to meet with education leaders to talk about how to make their schools safer in a work session on Monday.

City leaders have been researching various safety methods that they plan on discussing. Leaders are looking to share ideas for safer polices with the school district. If they need money, they're willing to help financially.

This work session will bring the mayor, city commissioners, the superintendent and school board members to the table.

In Dothan City Schools, there have been several cases of fighting. Weapons have been brought to schools in the past.

Honeysuckle Middle School implemented a new clear book bag policy at the beginning of the school year, after students brought guns to school. Officials want to do more to ensure safe learning environments.

"I hope we don't get to a place where we have to have monitors and go through the different systems for guns, but maybe we do. I think it's a time to have a conversation with them, and simply ask them where they're at now and how we can help," said Mike Schmitz, Mayor of Dothan.

City Commissioner Kevin Dorsey recently traveled to Chicago to learn what they're doing in their schools.

"Chicago is not Dothan, Alabama and I truly understand that, but the thing is they face far more crime, far more problems that we may not ever see. I did learn that they did have some great safe strategies in their school system, which I brought a lot back. We will present that to the board," Dorsey said.

The work session is scheduled Monday evening.

Leaders would like to meet with parents and community members at a later date to discuss ideas further.

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