Day 3: Your Questions, Their Answers: Holly Springs (NC) Mayoral and Town Council Candidate Q&A Series
Public Safety & Emergency Services: What steps would you take to improve school safety and better protect students?
Holly Springs, NC, Sep. 26, 2025 — As Holly Springs prepares for the upcoming municipal elections, Holly Springs Update (HSU) and What’s Happening Holly Springs (WHHS) are working to give residents a clear view of where the candidates stand on key issues.
Earlier this month, all candidates were provided with a questionnaire developed from community-driven submissions and refined by Christian Hendricks, publisher of HSU, and Aaron Wenzel, moderator of WHHS. Candidate response documents were first published together in a story on September 22nd.
Earlier story: All Candidate Submissions Now Published in Holly Springs (NC) Mayoral & Town Council Questionnaire (9/22/25).
To facilitate easier comparison and contrast of answers, responses are being shared on an individual basis. Beginning September 24 and continuing through October 4, one question will be featured each day.
Today’s installment marks Day 3 of the series. For readers who missed prior days’ coverage, stories can be found by clicking on the links below:
Day 1: How will you ensure that growth does not outpace the town’s capacity for infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, safety, technology, utilities)?
Day 2: What specific steps would you take to address congestion on NC 55, Avent Ferry, Sunset Lake, and other deficient roads and connectivity and walkability of greenways and sidewalks?
Note: All candidate responses are published exactly as submitted, without editing, and are presented in alphabetical order by last name. Links are also provided below to all answers from each candidate and their respective campaign websites.
Question 3: Public Safety & Emergency Services
What steps would you take to improve school safety and better protect students?
Mayoral Candidate Answers
Mike Kondratick
The Wake County Commissioners and the school board are responsible for funding and implementing most school and student safety initiatives. As municipal officials, we need to maintain strong relationships with each of these groups.
The most immediate thing we can do as local elected officials is work with the Holly Springs Police Department (HSPD) to ensure our School Resource Officers (SROs) have all the necessary resources and that our SRO training program continues.
We need to ensure that either HSPD or crossing guards are available to assist walkers, especially in construction areas.
Just as important as students’ physical safety is their emotional security. Our federal and state partners are critical to addressing this issue. With youth mental health under strain and bullying a consistent issue, Holly Springs leaders need to advocate to fully fund school nurse and mental health counselor positions. Nurses and counselors can help prevent mental health challenges, provide early detection, and ensure students get access to the resources and treatment they need.
Our mayor and council should be voicing these needs to our state and federal representatives and the school board on behalf of our residents.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Sean Mayefskie
While schools in Holly Springs fall under the governance of Wake County and the State, we work closely with them to ensure our children have a safe learning environment. As Mayor, I’ve prioritized school safety by providing some of the best-trained School Resource Officers (SROs) in the state — and ensuring they are a trusted, consistent presence in our schools.
We also opened a new Fire Station to improve emergency response times across town.
Public safety is non-negotiable — and in a time when national concerns are rising, Holly Springs continues to lead by example. I’ll keep working to ensure our officers and emergency responders have the resources they need to protect our kids and our
community.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Council Member Candidates
Joe Cuccurullo
Recently, Councilman Tim Forrest and I announced a plan to implement a Crossing Guard program here in Holly Springs. This is a practical, common-sense step that adds an extra layer of safety and security for students traveling to and from school. It’s a solution that all residents can support because it directly protects children, is cost-effective, and can be phased in a targeted way. By starting in the highest-need areas — particularly high-traffic zones or locations impacted by construction, road widenings, and new developments, we can maximize the impact while keeping it affordable for taxpayers. This also allows us to evaluate the program’s effectiveness as we expand it.
At the same time, we must ensure that our schools are not soft targets. Maintaining a
consistent police presence, including a School Resource Officer (SRO) in every building, is essential. The presence of an SRO reassures parents, teachers, and administrators, while also serving as a visible deterrent and providing immediate response capability if needed. That level of preparedness is critical in today’s world.
I believe deeply in public safety in all its forms. It is not just one priority among many — it is
the number one priority of my campaign. When families feel safe, our neighborhoods are stronger, our local economy thrives, and Holly Springs continues to be a place where people want to live, work, and raise their children. Investing in school safety through measures like the Crossing Guard program and maintaining strong police presence in our schools are key ways we can uphold that commitment.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Annie Drees
As a mother, the safety of Holly Springs children is of particular importance to me. Holly Springs provides Student Resource Officers to Wake County Public Schools to provide security and build trust with our students. These officers prioritize prevention and connection.
Wake County Public Schools are now using the Rave Panic app for emergency situations as well as the See Something Say Something app which allows students to share concerning communications. This technology selection is made by WCPSS. The SROs use a community-based policing model based on building relationships. Officers are also focusing on behavioral and mental health issues and identifying and working with these students for early intervention.
In addition, I believe we need to prioritize the safety of our Holly Springs kids who walk or bike to school. The WCPSS has no transport zone (NTZ) families who live within 1.5 miles of their assigned schools and have been determined to live in a safe, walkable neighborhood. These families don’t receive bus service. I believe it is important to work with WCPSS on the NTZ identification and any construction or other temporary changes that might impact that NTZ designation. For example, we
plan to increase the road width on Holly Springs Central from Flint Point to Main Street. As part of the construction work, the sidewalk on Holly Springs Road that connects to Holly Springs Elementary will be closed. This neighborhood is an NTZ. Just last week I spoke with Wake County Public School Board member and staff to make sure that WCPSS was well informed of this change with time to plan for the safety of those students. Working together, we can ensure the safety of our children here in Holly Springs.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Tim Forrest
School safety is one of the most important concerns I hear from parents in Holly Springs. While the Wake County Public School System oversees schools directly, the Town has a critical role to play in protecting students through coordination, infrastructure, and public safety. First, I support strengthening partnerships between Holly Springs Police Department and WCPSS, including continued School Resource Officers, crisis response training, and safety drills. Trust and visibility are essential to prevention and rapid response. Second, we need to improve traffic and pedestrian safety around schools. That means better crosswalks, sidewalks, flashing
signals, and traffic-calming measures in school zones. I’ve also worked with colleagues to propose a School Crossing Guard Program—a low-cost, phased plan to help keep children safe during drop-off and pick-up times until larger road projects are complete. Third, I support continued investment in technology and training, including updated communications systems for first responders, mental health and crisis intervention training for officers, and coordination with county emergency services. Finally, school safety is about prevention as well as response. I
believe in community engagement programs that help build trust between students, families, and officers so that concerns can be reported early. The bottom line: by combining strong law enforcement partnerships, safer school zone infrastructure, and proactive prevention, Holly Springs can provide both parents and students with the peace of mind that their safety is our top priority.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Kara Foster
The safety of our children is non-negotiable. With Holly Springs’ population nearly doubling over the last decade, we have to ensure our emergency services and schools are keeping pace. Currently, the town invests more than a quarter of its operating budget in public safety, but parents are right to demand more coordination and prevention strategies.
First, I support strengthening partnerships between Holly Springs Police, Wake County Public Schools, and emergency management. Joint drills, real-time communication systems, and shared resource planning can reduce response times and improve coordination. I also believe we need to continue funding school resource officers where appropriate, ensuring they are trained not only in security but also in building trust with students.
But true safety starts before an incident. That is why I support investing in mental health resources, partnerships with local nonprofits, and parent education programs that help identify issues before they escalate. National data shows that schools with strong prevention and intervention programs see up to 30 percent fewer disciplinary incidents. For Holly Springs, that means less disruption, safer campuses, and stronger student well-being.
By balancing visible protection with behind-the-scenes prevention, we can give parents peace of mind and keep our schools places where kids feel safe and supported.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Sarah Larson
It is important for councilmembers to provide guidance and to advocate for our residents. This includes collaborating with the Wake County Public School System, local law enforcement, and emergency services to review and strengthen safety protocols. I also support programs that provide training for staff, students, and residents on emergency preparedness and response.
During my ride-alongs with both the Holly Springs Fire Department and Holly Springs Police Department, I saw firsthand the importance of planning for growth alongside our public safety resources, from call times to future station locations.
Communication is another critical component. Residents need to be informed about safety plans, alerts, and opportunities to engage with local law enforcement or emergency personnel. I will support town-led initiatives that improve transparency, foster trust, and provide clear channels for residents to report concerns or ask questions.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Josh Prizer
The SRO program is essential to our schools. We must assess each school to make sure they’re staffed appropriately. I have experience with this being on the Pine Springs Preparatory Academy Board of Directors. We have a great relationship with HSPD and our school resource officers have become key figures in our Elementary and Middle Schools.
Links: (candidate submittals, website)
Be sure to look for candidate answers to Question #4 tomorrow!