'Appalling And Unacceptable:' Berkeley Schools React To Texas Tragedy

BERKELEY, CA — Counselors are prepared to help Berkeley students process the shooting in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 elementary school students and one teacher.

“Events like this can create increased anxiety among our students, staff, and families – especially when violence is targeted at communities of color, as it was in Buffalo – or impacts immigrant communities, as it has today in Texas,” Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Brent Stephens wrote in an email to parents. “Please be assured that BUSD counselors will be prepared to work with students and staff who need support at our schools tomorrow and throughout the week.”

Stephens also shared a list of resources to help BUSD staff and families explain the events to children:

• How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings (Common Sense Media)
• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a School Shooting (American Psychological Association)
• Talking to Kids About Racism and Violence (Childmind.org)
• Buffalo: How to Talk with Young People (Anti Defamation League)

“The violence is appalling and unacceptable,” Stephens wrote. “This is something we all feel, and that should prompt us towards compassion – towards seeing all our neighbors as precious and irreplaceable – and towards action. We must voice our support for changes to laws that will ensure our students, staff and families are safe in every school every day.”

The California Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to allow private citizens to file suit for at least $10,000 against manufacturers of illegal assault weapons or untraceable ghost guns.

Berkeley Unified schools have comprehensive, site-specific safety plans in place.

SEE MORE:

• Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims
• Texas School Shooting: Live Updates In Photos
• Texas Shooting Prompts CA Senate To Pass Bill Targeting Assault Guns
• 'Enough!' Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Gives Impassioned Plea On Shooting