District 196 Superintendent's Message to Staff After Connecticut Shooting

Editor's note: The following is an email District 196 Superintendent Jane Berenz sent to staff members on Tuesday.

What happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday was a cowardly act of unspeakable evil. While deeply saddened by the loss of life, we can also be inspired by the courageous actions of the adults who risked and gave their lives for the children in their care.

We hope never to face a situation of violence at a school, but rest assured all students and employees have been instructed how to respond to different types of emergencies and regularly practice those plans. State law requires public schools to conduct at least five lockdown drills per year. In addition, each school has an emergency planning team that works closely with police to regularly review and update the school’s emergency response 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. Thank you for all you do to keep the safety and welfare of students our top priority in District 196.