The Safe Schools Program for Weakley County Schools coordinates efforts made on behalf of the S.A.V.E. (Schools Against Violence in Education) Act, a state funded initiative designed to further school activities which support the creation of safe atmospheres for learning. Formerly known as the “Safe and Drug Free Schools Program”, the Weakley County Safe Schools Program strives to provide technical assistance to schools, build effective linkages with support service agencies and serve as a resource for community members.

Programs and activities carried out include:

Character Education – All schools use the Josephson Foundation “Character Counts!” program, which emphasizes the qualities of responsibility, respect, caring, trustworthiness, fairness and citizenship, as the foundation for helping to foster the development of positive character traits in our students. Lessons, activities and featured events vary in accordance with the six week’s theme, but may include service learning projects or student recognition ceremonies. 

Substance Abuse/Violence Prevention – With character education as the building block for helping youth develop into positively focused, resilient learners, the Safe Schools Program provides technical assistance, materials and training opportunities to staff and links to community partners in the struggle to keep our students, and their learning communities, substance abuse and violence free. Examples of programs used throughout the county include “Too Smart to Start”, “Project Alert” “The Michigan Model”, “Bully Free Schools”, “Bully-Busters” and “School-Wide Positive Behavior.” 

School Social Worker – The School Social Worker assists students in optimizing their school experience. Services are provided to all students, grades K-12, who may be experiencing social, emotional, learning or behavioral difficulties in school. Problems which may be addressed include poor academic performance, low self esteem, truancy, time management/inability to remain on task and mood/health or behavioral problems. The school social worker consults with teachers, administrators, parents and community resources to seek resolutions to issues which may impair a students’ ability to achieve to their fullest potential.

Student Assistance Program (SAP) – This contracted service, through a local community mental health provider, is designed to provide aid to students encountering academic, family, behavioral or personal problems. Referrals to this program may be made by the student, parent/guardian, teacher, school counselor/administrator or the School Social Worker.

Emergency Response Planning – Weakley County Schools utilize the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) multi-hazards approach to protecting students, staff and visitors on campus. The system has a county-wide plan which is tailored by each school to address unique student population/campus layout needs. 

Response Agency Liaison – Ensuring there are open lines of communication between local law enforcement, fire and emergency management is critical to emergency operations effectiveness. The Safe Schools Coordinator serves as the liaison for the school system and those agencies in our county which would be the first on scene in case of a natural or manmade urgent situation. 

School Resource Officers– Each of the four schools in the city of Martin are served by School Resource Officers (SROs). These officers provide safety and law related education, assist with conflict resolution, serve as an additional guidance resource, assist with juvenile petition filing and monitor the safety and security of the campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Each of the schools in the remainder of the county are routinely monitored by law enforcement by walk-throughs, lunch time visits, classroom presentations, campus safety/security assessments and participation in response planning and drills.

School Emergency Operations Plan & FAQs

• Download a PDF: 2024-25 School Emergency Operations Plan Brochure

At the January, 2013 Tennessee Schools Safety Summit a nationally respected safety expert, Mr. Gregory Thomas, while assuring attendees that schools were still the safest places for children to be, asserted that school safety “…is not just a school problem. It’s a community problem; it is the entire community’s responsibility to work toward ensuring our children have safe places to learn.” We are grateful to have a community where schools and their efforts to teach our youth are supported by parents, emergency responders, youth serving agencies and local governments. The Weakley County Safe Schools Program thanks you for your continued support. We ask you to take a moment to visit some of the links provided. Join us as we work to be safe, learn and prepare tomorrow’s future leaders.