Dive Summary:
- In the aftermath of Friday's mass shooting at Newtown, Conn.'s Sandy Hook Elementary School, school leaders nationwide are reviewing their security measures, reassuring parents and taking yet another frightening scenario into consideration.
- Previous school shootings have led to district policies that include locking doors, requiring visitors to provide ID, employing safety officers, implementing emergency mass-notification systems, installing security cameras, and using metal detectors.
- Lockdown drills are among the most common safety measures implemented at schools nationwide, but experts agree that all of the preparation, while potentially helpful, comes with no guarantees.
From the article:
Amid grief and condolences for the 20 children fatally shot Dec. 14 by a gunman in Newtown, Conn., school leaders nationwide sent eMails, text messages, and phone recordings assuring parents and children their schools are safe, while acknowledging the difficult balancing act in keeping that promise. “It’s just very difficult to be able to, in today’s world, eliminate all those risks,” said Rick Johnson, superintendent of the 3,000-student Mahomet-Seymour Community Schools district in rural eastern Illinois. ...
