Local schools on heightened alert following Conn. shooting
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SEATTLE -- In response to Friday's horrific shooting in Connecticut, security teams with local school districts are on heightened alert and counselors are reaching out to students and parents.
Friday's tragedy took place thousands of miles away, but it has real consequences for local students, parents and teachers.
"I'm picking my kids up early," said parent Jarman Hauser. "I had to come, I just had to get them. My wife is at home waiting for us to come home so we can just be together."
Both the Tacoma and Seattle school districts have sent letter home to parents with tips on how to deal with this type of tragedy. Teachers and counselors are also preparing to answer kids' questions.
"Monday morning our staff will be on alert again. They'll be providing a safety net, a warm environment for all of our students so that they do feel safe and secure when they go to school," said Lesley Rogers of Seattle Public Schools.
The first thing most schools did on Friday was check security.
"Our school security staff has been out in schools," Rogers said. "They've been paying attention, they've got their ear to the ground."
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said in-school officers are also doing their part to help students feel safe.
"Our school resource officers are in the schools," he said. "There are kids that are hearing about what's going on, they're upset, they're coming to our guys and talking to them about it."
School security has come a long way since the Springfield, Ore. shooting in 1998 and the Columbine shooting a year later. Schools now regularly conduct drills and go over safety plans.
There's no word on any threats to local schools, but the districts know that copycat shootings are a risk and say security officers are staying extra vigilant.
"For two reasons: One, to deter anybody who might be on the fence thinking they might do something like this. And two, we want the kids to feel safe," Troyer said.
For now, many parents just want their kids home with them.
"My kids are in elementary school," Hauser said. "This could happen right here in Seattle, it could happen in Queen Anne, it could happen in South Seattle, it could happen in Tacoma -- it hits home."
Seattle Public Schools officials say Friday's tragedy will prompt them to re-examine their own policies and see if there are any lessons they can learn to improve security.
Friday's tragedy took place thousands of miles away, but it has real consequences for local students, parents and teachers.
"I'm picking my kids up early," said parent Jarman Hauser. "I had to come, I just had to get them. My wife is at home waiting for us to come home so we can just be together."
Both the Tacoma and Seattle school districts have sent letter home to parents with tips on how to deal with this type of tragedy. Teachers and counselors are also preparing to answer kids' questions.
"Monday morning our staff will be on alert again. They'll be providing a safety net, a warm environment for all of our students so that they do feel safe and secure when they go to school," said Lesley Rogers of Seattle Public Schools.
The first thing most schools did on Friday was check security.
"Our school security staff has been out in schools," Rogers said. "They've been paying attention, they've got their ear to the ground."
Pierce County sheriff's spokesman Ed Troyer said in-school officers are also doing their part to help students feel safe.
"Our school resource officers are in the schools," he said. "There are kids that are hearing about what's going on, they're upset, they're coming to our guys and talking to them about it."
School security has come a long way since the Springfield, Ore. shooting in 1998 and the Columbine shooting a year later. Schools now regularly conduct drills and go over safety plans.
There's no word on any threats to local schools, but the districts know that copycat shootings are a risk and say security officers are staying extra vigilant.
"For two reasons: One, to deter anybody who might be on the fence thinking they might do something like this. And two, we want the kids to feel safe," Troyer said.
For now, many parents just want their kids home with them.
"My kids are in elementary school," Hauser said. "This could happen right here in Seattle, it could happen in Queen Anne, it could happen in South Seattle, it could happen in Tacoma -- it hits home."
Seattle Public Schools officials say Friday's tragedy will prompt them to re-examine their own policies and see if there are any lessons they can learn to improve security.
I'm sure this will be a great boon for the security business. We'll probably cut more funding for education, lay off more teachers, and hire armed security guards at all the elementary and middle schools. We've already done this in many of the high schools. Welcome to America and the 21st century!!
i don't know, this is sort of strange. its not like there is a network of school shooters ready to strike when a blind eye is turned.
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i agree with Mossman a few posts ago - grabbing at the tragedy thousands of miles away that has little to nothing to do with our state. schools should always have good security, right? this is just sensationalizing someone elses' tragedy.
So, my take on this, it's always good to do a drill, refresh on what to do if something like this were to happen around here. Even though the likelihood of a copycat may or may not be rare, refreshing on what to do right after a tradegy like this is a good idea. I don't see it as panicking; I see it as reminding people on what to do. It's absolutely terrible that we even need to have a drill for something like this, but unfortunately, unless something changes, I'd rather know that my children know what to do in case something like that does happen. My youngest, 8, isn't aware of what happened, but I intent to go over with her on what to do as a worst case scenario. My oldest, 12, does know. And I am helpless on being able to comfort her because she is with her dad in Missouri right now. She reacted the same way most of us adults did, and I spent a good amount of time talking to her tonight to calm her down (as did her dad and stepmom). Having the schools discuss this, and help the students feel safe is a good thing, and eases the children's minds if nothing else..
Sorry for rambling.
 @TigerDancer no need to apologize - open ears right here, and agreementÂ
So basically, as long as incidents like what happened today never happen, then you will never hear about school security being vigilant. Everytime something like this happens, then "local schools go on heightened alert". Would be nice if they would be alert all the time.
 @northwestsurfer it's about guidance... the superintendent did a great job reassuring parents and guiding them how to handle this with their own kids. It's in the news, the kids will find out, and they might get concerned something like this could happen to them too. If parents freak out, the kids will follow. If you have kids, you know this: if your child gets hurt it will be ok as long as you are, if you go bananas, so will your kid .... Our school district is alert and oriented ;-) Showing some extra police presence for comfort and to deter copy cats is totally appropriate.Â
This story is only here because of the typical self-serving attitude of Seattle. After 911, Seattle was convinced they would be next. Seattle is the center of the universe. Seattle, get over yourselves. How pathetic Seattle has  become. Always the attention whore.......geeez
I'm sorry but this news story bugs me. Its a ploy to get air time and viewers by attempting to somehow connect our local situation to what has happened over in Connecticut. There is no relation to here and there, except for the fact that we have elementary schools, just as every city in the country does. Its actually quite pathetic. Â
 @MossMan Bring in the National Guard to patrol our elementary and middle schools. Have you noticed that the Connecticut story is all over the network television stations? Gun violence sells advertising time better than sex these days.
@mossMan i agree. people have an odd need to make everything about them....
 @MossMan it's obvious that you do not have any children - or at least none in school age
After Virginia Tech, Clackmas mall, Aurora theater, and the Tuscon supermarket shooting any place is a target. Just readying schools should not be end of the matter. Crazy people have shown they will strike anywhere at any time regardless of the reverence placed on elementary schools.Â
 @Cinn correct, however it feels particularly heinous to attack small children, those most vulnerable and least protected in a "gun-free" zone. Â
Most of us like to take our children to the supermarket, mall, and movie theaters all so called gun free zones. Crazy trumps every precaution. Â
It's obviously a very rare occurrence to have a copycat situation happen, but I'm glad to see that they're working to make everyone feel safe. It's good to see that they care.
 @jowsuf Copycats are NOT rare jowsuf. All of the recent shootings are the result of the combination of two things. Mental defectives with a death wish looking for attention, and a media machine that is more than willing to GIVE them that attention. As much as my heart aches because of what happened today, and in Oregon......if our media would put these stories on the back page, and not beat them to death for ratings, the "Emos" out there with death wishes wouldn't be copying someone who got a LOT of attention. They'd find some different way to draw attention to themselves......like jumping off a bridge, and being a byline for a day in a local "oops" section.
Good. Because nothing brings more peace of mind than hysterical panicking.
I went and picked up my daughter and my neighbors son early today, we just wanted our kids close. Hug your little ones extra hard tonight.
 @ValleyBronco that's great, instill fear in your kids too.Â
 @MossMan You probably don't even have kids or you wouldn't of even said that.
 @MossMan I don't either but I also don't lie or hide things from my kid. My 9 yrs old is very well rounded, sweet and intelligent. I did tell her what happened today but my neighbor didn't tell her 7 yrs old son about it because he just isn't quite old enough or mature enough.
 @ValleyBronco I can tell you right now that I don't baby my kids.
I knew my kids were safe and loved at their school today. I just had to be with them. Spent the afternoon volunteering at school.
I'll go on a limb and suggest let's waive the gun free zone for some of the teachers - those who want to volunteer. Â I would feel a lot better, if I knew that at least 3 or 4 friendlies at my kids school are carrying a gun.
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ore-lawmaker-says-teachers-should-be-allowed-guns-183644341.html
 @Komo Dragon only in America do people say "we need more guns" when a tragic shooting rampage occurs ... and that is wrong on so many levels ... arm teachers you say ? when in fact, this teacher (or teacher's aide, or something) did have guns, properly registered, and they were turned on her and used in this horrific event ... yup, sounds like a good plan (not) however, this opinion piece deserves a careful read, consideration and discussion :http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/15/1170178/-I-have-been-a-gun-owner-for-more-than-30-years#
 @sstt I could easily & happily live in a gun-free world. But with 300m guns in circulation, one has to be realistic about it. Gun control and policies have limited efficacy when it comes to suicidal mass murderers. As we learned in this latest incident, the shooter used regular pistols, not an assault rifle. I used to have a pacifist opinion on this issue, but with 1-2 m DGUs, I have changed my position in the matter.
 @Komo Dragon Completely agree I said this before but in junior high I had at least 6 vets(5 saw combat),  one retired police officer and countless other teachers I would trust my life with.  Pretty sure a janitor had served along with our security officer. Train them and let them carry.  It may detour a person and if it doesn't it at least give the teacher a way to attempt to stop it instead of getting killed.  I do think we should allow anyone with a concealed permit to be fine in school.  Face it the no gun zones don't work for the crazies.  But if they know the parents dropping the kids of may drop them it may detour them.Â
 @APenny4MyThoughts agreed, as it stands now, I can carry to the parking lot for pickup but I cannot enter the school. So, I leave the gun at home. I don't want to enter the building by accident ...
 @Komo Dragon That idea has been suggested by not only parents, but many teachers. The minority "anti gun" fanatics have managed to raise enough of a stink to make it not worth the fight in court. After today........I think it's worth the fight. Had someone in their right mind and armed been in that school, the death count would probably have been MUCH lower today.
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And local parents should be concerned. We've already seen a young boy bring a loaded handgun to school resulting in one tragedy in our area recently. What these parents should be concerned about is their kid's classmates' parents who fail to secure their weapons.Â
 @lakeview not to mention the shooter just recently that ended up in clark elementary's parking lot, my daughter goes to that school and I remember being thankful that it happened on a weekend when kids weren't there.