Election Day worries closing school districts, but not in Middle Georgia

The heated presidential race has prompted some school districts across the country to cancel class on Election Day, but that’s not the case in Middle Georgia.

Districts in Maine, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Nebraska have called off school that day amid concerns about the prospect of violence at polling sites, many of which are at schools, according to a McClatchy Newspapers report.

Some Georgia districts have also decided to cancel class, but school will be in session as usual across the midstate on Nov. 8, based on a sampling of five school districts. Representatives of Bibb, Houston, Jones, Monroe and Peach county schools also said they had not heard of any other systems canceling class either.

“(Houston County schools have) been polling places for many years, and we’ve not closed in the past,” said Beth McLaughlin, director of community and school relations for Houston County. “We did not consider canceling school for the election.” There are seven polling sites at schools in Houston County.

In Bibb County, seven polling sites are located at schools. The Bibb County school system and the mayor’s office have not received any reports of potential violence, and they have no reason to be concerned about the safety of students and staff on Nov. 8, said Bibb County schools communications director Stephanie Hartley.

Campus police, the school district’s Safety and Risk Management Department, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Macon-Bibb County elections officials have worked together to monitor voting places in the past. Sheriff’s deputies will visit all sites this year, and poll workers received additional training, Hartley said. McLaughlin said law enforcement will also be at Houston schools as a safety precaution.

“Our goal is to ensure the safety of all students and staff on a campus — just as we would any other day — while allowing the election process to occur,” Hartley said. “Should we see a need for any changes prior to Election Day, we will communicate quickly with parents and the community.”

No schools in Jones, Peach or Monroe counties serve as polling places. Jackson Daniel, Monroe County’s assistant superintendent for personnel and operations, said their schools have not been polling sites for about 15 years, and Nov. 8 will be a regular day for students.

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Election Day worries closing school districts, but not in Middle Georgia."