Bear Creek Academy increasing security after Nashville school shooting

One local private school is increasing its security measures after Monday’s deadly school shooting in Nashville.

Bear Creek Academy Principal Monica Rodgers said her staff is constantly thinking about security and the safety of their students and staff. And when there’s another school shooting, Rodgers said, it hits close to home no matter where it happens.

“We all are praying for them and praying for their healing, but that is just something really tough to get past,” said Rodgers.

Rodgers said Bear Creek Academy has a protection plan in place.

“I think for all schools and any large gathering place where you have lots of people, every time a mass shooting happens, it causes all of us to pause and kind of reflect on ‘are we safe?’ What are we doing to keep ourselves and others around us safe?” said Rodgers.

Rodgers said she ensures Bear Creek teachers and staff are in constant communication with each other, especially during school hours.

That’s something Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy recommends. He said communication and preparation are critical.

“We want to make sure that we do everything we can do from a preventative standpoint,” Abernathy said. “We want to know if there is a problem with a student or parent or whoever it may be that may be a threat.”

The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has a group of school resource officers who serve schools within the Tuscaloosa County School System. A recent increase of funding made room for four more, Abernathy said, and these SROs are trained as first responders and teach classes at the schools they serve.