Message from the Superintendent Regarding the Tragedy in Connecticut:
As I noted to our staff, it is especially difficult for people in our profession to deal with the imagery of someone entering an elementary school and going on shooting rampage. Apart from the raw emotional impact of what happened somewhere else, it leaves us anxious about our own security as well as the security of our students. I can only imagine how shaken it leaves parents who send their children to school every day trusting that they will return safely at the end of the day.
We have systems in place that meet generally accepted standards of school security in New York State. However, if anyone has questions or concerns about school security, please do not hesitate to contact me. We will compile a list of any issues that are raised and seek expert advise on how to address them. Meanwhile, if you have a child who is struggling to cope with what happened, or if you yourself are struggling, please do not hesitate to contact a counselor, school psychologist, or social worker at your child's school. No one should feel like they have to handle this on their own. We are a caring community and will do whatever we need to do to take care of one another.
Sadly, Howard Smith
I was shocked last week, when I went to talk to an secretary at John Paulding around 10AM on a school day. The 2 front doors were unlocked, the first floor empty, and I was able to walk right upstairs without anyone taking notice. I have a young child about to enter the Tarrytown public school system and Newtown's tragedy has left me quite unnerved questioning, and scared. This could have been our school. These could have been our children. School shootings are happening more and more frequently and security must be taken seriously every single day! How will Tarrytown public schools assure the safety of our children and protect them against violence that is more and more rampant?
My husband and I, went the next day to talk to the Principal. They "think" there was a High School Student who did it, but I'm still waiting for answers or results from the investigation. We NEED cameras in the schools 24/7