IRMO, S.C. — Irmo High School is moving to virtual learning for two days next week to address safety concerns.
Lexington-Richland Five superintendent Dr. Akil Ross said late Friday afternoon that the school would be out of the building on Monday and Tuesday. This came just after a large protest at the school by students who said they feared for their safety. News19 is working to confirm the details relating to those concerns, but students were chanting "no means no."
“We did not feel safe," said Adrianna Canfield, a student at the school. "Us girls would break down in tears, crying because of what is happening to our school and we just want to come to school and get our education and here we are having to worry about a boy touching girls."
"Supervision and safety concerns continue to arise," Ross said. He said those concerns will be address by this move next week.
Ross said they'd use the time while students are out of the building to set up what he called a special academy at Irmo High, or a 'school within a school.' It will be designed to give more attention and mental health services to what he called 'highest need students.'
"We have to retool things in terms of our operations here, things that we can do to increase safety and security for all students and staff at Irmo High school," he said.
This will include smaller classrooms as well as more supervision and mental health and behavior management services.
"By meeting the needs of these highest need students that we are not only able to provide safety for others but restorative results for those students in need," the superintendent added.
Ross said he spoke to some of the students who led the protest at the school and that "their voices are heard."
Ross said students who worry for their safety can use the Stop It App for students to report bullying and harassment.
“Remember that if there is a crime, then charges will be filed and arrests will be made," he added. "And so while I can’t go into the details of any specific case, we serve the pubic and if you are free to be in public you are free to come to a public school.”