Friday's shooting spree at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, that killed 20 students has school officials in Three Village reassuring parents that there are emergency management plans and security procedures are in place.
"We are continuing to follow the emergency management procedures as outlined in our safety plan and continue to work closely with our building administration to ensure that security and safety protocols are being followed," the district said in a statement on its website. "In the wake of this event, we will be disseminating further communications regarding our emergency management protocols early next week to district families."
According to a school spokeswoman, Three Village's emergency management team holds regular meetings throughout the school year to "review and discuss current district practices and protocols as well as attend training." The next meeting is scheduled for January.
Three Village students, faculty, and staff practice lockdown drills each year along with a relocation drill, and districtwide there is a school safety plan that is put into place.
Ward Melville High School and Arrowhead Elementary were twice on lockdown in recent history, once in May of 2012 when a burglary had taken place near the schools and once in September of 2011 when a bank was robbed in the vicinity of those two buildings.
The district also extended a message of sympathy to the families effected in Newtown. "It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest sympathies to those families affected by the horrific events that took place in Connecticut earlier today. ... Our thoughts and prayers are with those most directly affected by today’s tragedy."
