Dear Queensbury Union Free School District community,
Last night, a terrible tragedy occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. We grieve with the families, students, and employees directly affected. As a parent myself, I understand the added stress and concern an event like this can have on our children and school community. Violence at a school on this scale is nearly impossible to process. Our hearts are broken; we are angry; we are frustrated.
Queensbury UFSD will continue its heightened security protocols in our effort in keeping children and staff safe on campus. In collaboration with the New York State Education Department, Queensbury Union Free School District is committed to promoting a safe learning environment where students and teachers partner to pursue academic excellence and emotional growth. This collaboration includes creating detailed safety plans, secured vestibules with multiple security checkpoints, license scanners that check the offender registry for anyone who attempts to enter the buildings, and our full-time school resource officer who has a strong pulse of the happenings in our district.
As always, we remind our staff: if you see something, say something. We want everyone in our community to feel safe and report concerns to school administration. Our school administration has put out reminders to our staff to encourage students who may have increased stress to seek guidance from any school personnel, including school counselors, school psychologists, or school social workers to help students grieve, feel safe, and feel protected.
Kyle L. Gannon
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