Aspen View Regional School Division trustees bowed their heads and gave a moment of silence during their Dec. 20 meeting for victims of the Newtown, Conn. school massacre.
A 20-year-old gunman shot and killed 26 people including 20 first grade students in Newtown, just two weeks before Christmas.
Aspen View will host a day for administrators in January to discuss school safety, and what the division can do to improve the safety of its students.
ìWe have a system crisis response plan, as well as every site has a plan,î said superintendent Brian LeMessurier. ìThe staff and students do exercises to practice those, including lockdowns and evacuations.î
LeMessurier said the division has plans in place for several different scenarios.
ìWe prepare for as many emergency possibilities as one can dream of, hoping of course that you never have to go there,î he said.
ìIt's just a horrendous situations,î he said referring to Newtown. ìI can't even begin to dream of just how hard this is going to be for that community.î
Landing Trail Intermediate School sent an email to all parents of students.
ìWe are all deeply saddened by the horrific happening at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.,î the email reads. ìOur thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims of Friday's senseless act of violence.î
LTIS staff wanted parents to know that a school emergency plan is in place and practiced on a regular basis.
ìAll outside doors are locked for most of the day (doors remain open at recess time), restricting access to the school to the main entrance,î the email states. ìAll visitors are required to sign in and out at the office.î
Since September of this year, LTIS has completed two fire drills and two lockdowns.
ìEmergency procedures are evaluated after each practice,î the email explains. ìBy the end of the year, we will have practiced at least six fire drills and at least four lockdowns.î
