School safety ranks high with Scott City School Board candidates

Scott City School Board candidates rank school safety as the top priority for the district.

Scott C. Amick

Incumbent Justin Braun, a sprinkler fitter with Scott City-based Hi-Tech Fire Protection, is among three candidates seeking the two positions on the board in the April 3 election. The others are funeral director Scott C. Amick, who previously served 16 years on the school board, and Ron �Ronnie� Gray, case manager for Crown Hospice in Cape Girardeau.

Ron Gray

Braun, who is completing his first three-year term on the board, said in an email school security and safety is �one of the biggest issues of our district that is currently on everyone�s mind.�

School safety has been a focus of parents and staff in school districts across the region since last month�s shooting at a Florida high school killed 17 people.

In February, a Bell City, Missouri, student was arrested after making a threat. Upon his arrest, law-enforcement officers found multiple firearms, including rifles and handguns and .40-caliber and shotgun ammunition in the student�s vehicle.

Last month, authorities examined a possible threat at the Scott City school campus. Superintendent Brian Lee said an investigation concluded the report of a threat was not accurate. �We take all of these types of situations seriously,� Lee wrote in an email to the Southeast Missourian. �We also involved local law enforcement and they came to the same conclusion.�

Lee said, �The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.�

Braun said the Scott City school campus is �very safe for our children already, especially with the recent renovations to our entrances and outstanding relationships with our local city and county law enforcement.�

He said the school board and school administration are looking into �new and innovative ideas and ways to further improve and maintain safety� for students and faculty. Braun did not disclose what those ideas might be.

A 1997 Scott City High School graduate, Braun, 38, has four sons attending classes in the district. In addition, his wife is employed by the district.

Braun said he wants to continue to be �a voice for the students and the community of Scott City.�

Gray, 50, said in an email if he is elected, his �number one priority will be improving on the safety of Scott City schools, in all aspects, so that the students and staff can concentrate on learning.�

A 1986 graduate of Scott City High School, Gray said he wants teachers and students �to achieve excellence� in and outside the classroom.

Gray said he is �never afraid to speak his mind� and described himself as �a great listener.�

Amick, who serves as Scott County coroner, said, if elected, he wants to address the issue of bullying.

�Bullying is a very big issue. I would like to see our administration take a strong position on ridding our district of bullying,� he said in an email.

�I really care about my community and our school is a very vital part of our community. It�s important that we have a good school system so as to attract people to our community,� he said.

The 60-year-old Amick stressed his past experience on the board, including having served as board president.

�My experience should speak for itself,� he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Scott City, Mo.