CAMPUS SECURITY
The security of a school campus is a major consideration when families are choosing the right school for their children. At HHCA, the safety and security of our students is a top priority, and we make exceptional efforts daily to ensure your children are safe, secure, and protected. Ongoing security efforts include emergency preparedness training, as well as partnerships with the Bluffton Police Department, Bluffton Fire Department, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, and other emergency management officials on a variety of initiatives. These include anti-bullying efforts, threat assessment and intervention, risk awareness and mitigation, fire and building safety, and hurricane planning/preparedness.
As a retired police detective with 30 years of venue security management and private security experience, I have seen firsthand the value of excellent training paired with strong community partnerships. They both play a crucial role in helping us maintain a safe campus environment for students every day.
- Steve Bryant, Director of Security
Steve Bryant, HHCA Director of Safety and Security, is retired from the Lexington Metro Police Department in Lexington, KY. His career includes over 30 years of concert venue, sports arena and civic center security and management. He spent the last 13 years of his career assigned to the Crime Scene Unit as a Forensic Detective. Prior to that assignment, he served in a Special Assignment Squad, Bureau of Investigation Narcotics Unit, and as a Patrol Field Training Officer.
Steve graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in Political Science. He is a member of the National Association of Campus Safety Administrators (NACSA), National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).
Steve Bryant is on call 24/7. If you have questions about campus security, you can text/call him at (859) 494-7900, email him, submit an anonymous alert.
VISITING OUR CAMPUS
HHCA has a closed-campus policy Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM. Campus gates are closed at 8:00 AM, and access during the school day is only granted through the main gate on Bluffton Parkway. All visitors (parents, volunteers, contractors, etc.) must report to the front desk and present a government-issued ID which will be scanned into our Raptor Visitor Management System which enables us to screen campus visitors upon arrival using a high-level background check and track visitors on campus at any given time.
Together with community partners, we make sure that emergency response planning at HHCA is ongoing and adaptive, always utilizing proven and up-to-date training, methods, and protocols. All of these efforts combine to ensure that our campus security program stays focused, intentional, highly effective, and responsive. Various initiatives in place at HHCA are listed below.
SCHOOL-WIDE SECURITY INITIATIVES
- Physical campus & building security:
- perimeter fencing
- 117 HD interior and exterior security cameras
- electric strike key access doors - Closed-campus policy (7:30 AM-3:30 PM, M-F)
- Raptor Visitor Management security screening system
- Anonymous Reporting system for students and parents
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Bi-annual faculty/staff trainings:
- emergency preparedness and response
- managing student conflicts
- bullying prevention, threat assessment, & mental health awareness
- crisis intervention strategies
- child neglect/abuse & sexual assault awareness
- campus emergency response and student/parent reunification - On-campus Rapid Response Team trained specifically to respond and mitigate emergency situations
- South Carolina teacher mandated reporter training & awareness
- Faculty/staff certification in CPR, AED, Stop-the-Bleed training
- Random drug testing for Upper School students
- Fire and building safety and compliance
- Hurricane and severe weather planning and preparedness
Student-focused safety and health trainings
- Student emergency response and awareness training
- CPR & AED certification for 11th grade students in conjunction with Bluffton Fire Department
- Girls' self-defense and situational awareness training with the SASS GO organization
- Distracted Driver training program for students, in conjunction with the South Carolina Highway Transportation Department
- Social Media safety awareness
- Prom Promise Awareness Presentation with Bluffton Fire & Police Departments
We are proud to partner with SASS, a non-profit organization committed to increased awareness, training, and support. Highly trained licensed and insured instructors bring impactful self defense courses for HHCA girls annually.
Students are encouraged to stand up and speak out to prevent bullying, cyber-harassment, hateful speech, troublesome behavior, eating disorders, self-harm, and more. If you have information to report pertaining to campus security and/or student safety, you can do so completely anonymously by submitting this Anonymous Alerts form or through the Anonymous Alerts app. Responses are sent directly to Mr. Bryant, and you may choose to remain anonymous or provide your contact information.
