Schools React to Crime in the Community
JACKSON, Tenn. – Jackson-Madison County School students and their bus drivers were put in scary situations during two of this week’s shootings. One happened while students were being taken home, and the other while students were on the way to school. “These are the kinds of things that frequently you can’t prepare yourself for,” JMCSS Superintendent Dr. Verna Ruffin said. “Although our drivers are trained, certain things (like these shootings) when they actually occur require a quick response.” The first incident happened Monday afternoon. As a school bus driver was taking students home, shots rang out at the Royal Arms Apartments. “There was not any warning that could’ve prepared that driver for that situation,” Dr. Ruffin said. “I think the driver did an excellent job of being able to respond quickly and exiting the area with the children.” Tuesday morning, students were being picked up at Lincoln Courts just moments after a shooting. The driver left the scene, heading towards North Side High School, but was stopped by police. “It was then that students were checked by the police and the driver again I believe handled it appropriately by cooperating with the law enforcement officers,” Dr. Ruffin said. Students arrived either at home or to school safely. According to Dr. Ruffin, parents in crisis situations are kept up to date using an automated messaging system. “It’s an opportunity to keep parents aware of what’s happening in the event of a school having a lockdown, or the school having an emergency, or even a community activity that may have caused the school to be in a high awareness situation,” Dr. Ruffin said.” Dr. Ruffin added that they school system’s transportation department will hold additional training for all drivers next week, putting extra emphasis on situations like those they have dealt with this week.
