‘Sickened and saddened’: Here's how Taunton-area schools are responding to Texas shooting
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There were more police officers in view than normal at schools in the Taunton area Wednesday morning in the aftermath of the shooting Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers.
“The increased presence is not due to any particular threat,” Taunton Police Chief Edward Jr. Walsh said in a message to the community.
“Police will be on hand as a precaution to help greet students, teachers, staff and parents during this difficult time.”
“In response to yesterday's events, all staff members have been directed to maintain heightened vigilance in monitoring our school environment,” Taunton Superintendent John Cabral said in a message to the community on the district’s website, www.tauntonschools.org.
“Please know that once we were made aware of this senseless tragedy in Uvalde, Texas late yesterday afternoon, we immediately began working closely with our safety officials in both the towns of Bridgewater and Raynham and the collective decision was made to establish an increased police presence at all of our schools throughout the BRRSD for the foreseeable future,” B-R Superintendent Derek Swenson said in a message to his communities.
"This morning we felt that seeing officers at all of our schools as parents, students and staff arrived would help to reassure them that we do recognize the traumatic impact that yesterday's events can have on them and that we do care and are available to them always," Dighton Police Chief Robert L. MacDonald said.
"During drop-off, my officers tell me that things went smooth and morning exchanges were had with many that included sincere gestures of thanks and appreciation. Officers stood with administration at all of the schools as students arrived and the overall feeling was solemn, yet supportive and positive."
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“This sounds very familiar to what we all saw happen in 2012 with Sandy Hook where sadly the numbers were even higher,” U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said a gathering of the Commission on the Status of Women in Taunton Tuesday night.
She was in the city to swear-in new commissioners, and took a moment to comment on the shooting.
“But we need to make sure, although we don’t know yet, we hope there was no additional ill intent like we saw in Buffalo, like we saw in Christ Church, or like we saw in Florida or Atlanta or all the other places we can mention,” Rollins said.
“There is clearly a significant mental health issue in our country and … we as law enforcement, need to work to make sure families feel comfortable going to law enforcement to say I’m afraid of what my brother or my sister or my dad or my mom or someone you care about is becoming.”
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Rollins said it is a choice between reporting your concerns to law enforcement or being the loved one of the victims in Buffalo or Texas.
“That’s a horrible choice that no one wants, to be either of those people,” she said. “But I do think we should make sure we should start talking even if it makes us uncomfortable.
“You know what’s more uncomfortable being the parent of a child who was killed or a child who was traumatized because they saw their friends killed or just the loved one of someone who lost their lives in a situation that could possibly be avoided.”
Increased police presence
Schools beyond the Taunton area across Massachusetts also had an increased police presence the morning after the shooting.
Flags are flying at half-staff across Massachusetts Wednesday, in accordance with orders from President Joe Biden and Gov. Charlie Baker, to show respect for the victims.
Several other victims are also hospitalized following the shooting in a fourth-grade classroom at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The shooter, 18, was killed by law enforcement.
“I am sure you all join me in the extreme sorrow and grief we are experiencing over the devastating events that took place yesterday in Uvalde, Texas,” Cabral said. “It is a tragedy beyond our worst nightmares, and my prayers and condolences go out to all of the families and school community members who lost loved ones during this horrific event.
“There are no words that could possibly capture the extent of their loss.”
“We are truly heavy-hearted regarding our colleagues and their students and families at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas,” Swenson said. “The victims and their families are and will forever be in our thoughts and prayers.
“The tragic loss of life that has once again transpired in our country, at the hands of a school intruder, is truly unfathomable. As Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District educators and parents/guardians, we share the responsibility in ensuring that all of our students/children are emotionally safe in relation to heinous actions that occur within our society like the one that horrifically ensued yesterday.”
In addition to the Taunton Police Department’s heightened presence, the department’s five school resource officers will also be actively monitoring all district schools, Walsh said. Anyone with concerns regarding school safety is encouraged to reach out to their school resource officers, he added.
To address possible fear and concern, Cabral listed safety procedures and precautions in place in the Taunton Public Schools.
All exterior entrances are locked at all times during the school day when students and staff are present.
All visitors to the schools are only admitted through the main office. Our schools are outfitted with intercom systems and security cameras at each primary entrance which allows office staff to verbally and visually screen all visitors prior to admitting them into the building
Earlier this school year, the Taunton Public Schools updated its comprehensive emergency preparedness plans for each school building. Each building has clearly defined safety procedures that allow staff to secure our buildings, classrooms and other spaces within minutes. These procedures have been reviewed with staff and practiced during the school year.
The Taunton Police Department leads the training at our schools and provides the district with feedback. We value their feedback, and implement their recommendations to ensure our safety procedures are current and up to date.
Administrators at each of our schools regularly review emergency procedures and precautions with our staff, including our recently conducted CrisisGo training.
“In response to yesterday's events, all staff members have been directed to maintain heightened vigilance in monitoring our school environment,” Cabral sad. “My staff has been in contact with the Taunton Police Department as we will have a heightened police presence throughout the district to provide an additional layer of monitoring of our buildings and grounds throughout the day. We are confident that we have comprehensive plans in place should an emergency situation arise. The safety of our children and staff members is paramount.”
Social emotional support
Swenson said Bridgewater-Raynham school adjustment and guidance counselors, social workers and school psychologists are available in all B-R schools as a means of providing social/emotional supports for BRRSD students, faculty and staff and families.
“Please do not hesitate in contacting members of our BRRSD administrative team, faculty and staff if your child, yourself or other members of your family require any level of service during this incredibly trying time,” Swenson said. “Please always remember that through good times and bad, we are all in this together.”
“I join a very long list of people horrified by the events of yesterday,” Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Superintendent Anthony C. Azar said. “After 40 years in education and being impacted by countless senseless tragedies while being a former teacher, assistant principal, principal and now superintendent the news yesterday is as shocking as ever.”
In response to the shooting, Azar said he has asked his administrative team in each school to review basic safety protocols. He also visited all the district’s schools Wednesday morning to revisit safety protocols.
“We have an excellent working relationship with our law enforcement folks in each town as well,” he said. “We have sent out a communication to our school community with valuable information to help support our students and their emotional needs while we address yet another act of senseless violence.”
Dighton Police were among the local department which increased officers presence at schools Wednesday morning.
“We are sickened and saddened at what occurred in Texas and want all students and staff to know that we are there for them always,” the department shared on Facebook.
Sources for parents
Swenson shared links below to guidance from the American Psychological Association & the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) when engaging in these difficult conversations with your students/children:
American Psychological Association, www.apa.org
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), www.nasponline.org
Cabral also offered links to resources on how to talk with your child about what transpired in Texas:
National Child Traumatic Stress Network, www.nctsn.org/
Helping Children Manage Stress in the Aftermath of a shooting, www.apa.org
Helping Children Cope with Frightening News, childmind.org
Staff writer Donna Whitehead can be reached by email at dwhitehead@tauntongazette.com.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton schools: Beefed up police presence in wake of Texas shooting
