South High’s new security staff members are bringing a new attitude to the building. Eight security monitors arrived at South High School this year with hopes of creating a safe environment for the students and teachers. However, in a previous interview with the Southerner for a May 2013 article, senior Amirah Ellison said that “[The] new security staff aren’t as effective as the older ones because they just don’t have the relationship with students.”

After the 2012-2013 budget cuts, South High’s associate educators were laid off, causing many students to worry about who would be looking out for our school. All of the security members were given the option of returning this year with a lower pay grade and the new job title of ‘security monitor’. South students reacted by complaining to Cecilia Saddler, principal at the time. They wanted to be more informed about budget cuts that would affect our school. Having more information would give the students time to take action and to voice their opinions. Although the students voiced a strong opinion on the subject, the staff members were let go at the end of the year. A few of the associate educators decided to stay at South despite the changes, and eight new staff members joined them at the beginning of this school year.

 With new security comes new initiatives. Abdi Ahmed, a member of the previous South security team, noted that this year they are focusing on “working together as a group” and prioritizing safety.

Some students are concerned that laying off the security monitors may not have been beneficial for the school. Eleventh grader Sofie Everetts said “I don’t want to go to them if I have a problem because they scare me and I don’t feel like they give me the response that I’m looking for.” Others don’t seem to have noticed much of a change. In the upcoming year the students and staff will see how the new members of our school adjust and make their mark at South High.