BLUE RIDGE, GA – School safety was a reoccurring theme at September’s Board of Education meeting. Fannin County Schools had been put to the test and passed when it comes to the safety of the children.

Fannin County Schools were awarded certificates for safety.

Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security agent Michael Ruple was present along with school resource officer Lt. Darvin Couch to announce that our school system had passed all safety criteria outlined by the State of Georgia.

Ruple stated that, “School safety is a huge issue. What we try to do is an all hazard approach. Preparing for things we can foresee and prevent.”

Each school was presented with a certificate to acknowledge this success. Ruple said that these certificates recognize that our school system has “met and exceeded Georgia law.”

Fannin County EMA Director Robert Graham was also there to present each school in our area with two new weather alert radios.

EMA Director Robert Graham gives schools new weather alert radios.

Graham stated that, “As a result of the flooding in December 2015, we were able to successfully apply for a grant from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).”

Having secured the grant Fannin County has acquired 692 new weather alert radios. Graham is hoping to start a campaign beginning next month that would provide these radios to flood prone areas.