Dear Southern Columbia Area Community,
As a school community, we are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life in Uvalde, TX due to a school shooting. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Uvalde community and all school communities across America. While our district is regularly reviewing safety precautions, practicing drills, and ensuring our schools remain a safe place for our students and employees, our sensitivity to school safety and student wellbeing is heightened following such recent events.
Our district has taken steps over the past several years to improve school safety and to ensure that processes and procedures are in place in the event of a crisis. These steps include but are not limited to improving school safety infrastructure, improving building security, hiring a school police officer, adding another school police officer for the 2022-2023 SY, providing staff & student trainings, implementing threat assessment protocols, and participating in regular security drills. Also, the District has implemented Social/Emotional initiatives such as screeners, SEL curriculum, individual and group counseling, Student Assistance Program, and targeted interventions based on individual and school data.
With that said, we consider our students, staff, and families as crucial parts of our school safety plan. It is important that our entire school community remain vigilant at all times and if something suspicious is seen or heard, report to school officials, local authorities, or our Safe2Say hotline. We cannot say this phrase enough: “See Something?? Say Something!!“ School safety and security are a priority for our school district. Schools should be a “safe place” for our students, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect our students and staff. As you are processing the events at Uvalde with your family, here is a resource that you may find useful from the National Association of School Psychologists.
As we look to bring a close to the 21-22 school year, we thank you for your cooperation thus far. There is much to celebrate in the remaining weeks, and we are looking forward to celebrating our Tigers’ accomplishments together as a community.