After Newtown Tragedy, Eagan Elementaries Connect With Parents

In response to the , Eagan elementary schools have sent emails to parents and worked one-on-one with students who have expressed concerns.

“We reassured parents that students are safe and that we would continue to keep them so,” Kris Scallon, the principal of Oak Ridge Elementary, said Tuesday. “We had a great day at school yesterday: Students were happy, students were learning.”

Scallon said she distributed a pamphlet to her staff with information on talking to students about violence. (See attached document.)

Gary Anger, the principal of Red Pine Elementary School, said he instituted a “soft lockdown” drill on Friday—Minnesota’s public schools are required to hold five lockdown drills per year—and that he exchanged multiple email messages with parents.

“The feedback from parents,” he said, “was overwhelmingly positive with basically messages of thanks and reassurance.”

Anger said Red Pine declined to speak with entire classes about the shooting “given the developmental level of our kids.”

On Tuesday, District 196 Superintendent Jane Berenz sent an email to school staff, assuring that “all students and employees have been instructed how to respond to different types of emergencies and regularly practice those plans.”

“Thankfully, our schools remain among the safest places for children because of the caring people who work in them and others in the community who watch over them,” she wrote.

During Tuesday evening's city council meeting, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire spoke about the Newtown shooting before the council observed a minute of silence.

"We are Newtown, Connecticut," Maguire said. "We know the dedicated principal and committed educator and mom, because she might be an elementary school principal here in Eagan. We know the promising young 27-year-old teacher because she's just like the person who taught our sons and daughters in first-grade at Pilot Knob, at Red Pine or at Thomas Lake."

More Eagan Patch coverage of the Newtown shooting:

• How Can I Help Families Affected by Newtown School Shooting?
• Talking To Your Kids About Newtown Tragedy
• District 196 Superintendent's Message to Staff After Connecticut Shooting
• Updated: Walmart And Dick's Sporting Goods Suspend Some Rifle Sales Nationwide