Safety A Priority, Says East Windsor Superintendent After Nashville Shooting

EAST WINDSOR, NJ — The Superintendent of East Windsor Regional School District sent a letter to the community on Wednesday, assuring the public of school safety in light of the deadly shooting at a private school in Nashville.

A heavily armed shooter opened fire inside a private Nashville school Monday and killed six people before being fatally shot by police. More: Nashville School Shooter Had Manifesto, Maps Of Building

Police identified the victims in The Covenant School shooting as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and Katherine Koonce, 60; Cynthia Peak, 61; and Mike Hill, 61. Law enforcement identified the shooter as Audrey Hale, 28.

"The events that took place earlier this week at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, are devastating and leave me struggling for words to comprehend or explain another unimaginable act of senseless gun violence," Superintendent Mark Daniels said.

When incidents like these occur, communities have a lot of questions, concerns, and emotions, Daniels said. He assured the community that the school district prioritizes safety and security of students and staff.

"As a district, we continue to prioritize the need for safety and security within each of our schools. This is reflected by an ongoing investment in our facilities and the importance of procedures, which includes the increased installation of surveillance cameras, reinforced window applications, locked perimeter doors, visitor protocols, and an anonymous reporting tool. Our staff and students continue to routinely engage in the practice of required monthly safety and security drills. We employ campus security personnel at our middle and high schools," Daniels said.

A majority of the campus security personnel are retired law enforcement professionals and the district said they maintain a "supportive, collaborative, and reliable relationships" with the East Windsor and Hightstown Police Departments.

Daniels also told parents each school has an established Threat Assessment Team, which consists of a school psychologist, counselor, social worker, and a building administrator. The team’s purpose is to determine whether a student poses a threat of violence and then offer recommended interventions and supports to prevent the violence from occurring.

The Superintendent also reminded the community of the importance of staying aware and reporting incidents or comments that may impact others.

“'See something, Say something' continues to be a critical tool to preserve the safety of our school community," Daniels said.

"As a district, we will remain committed to the importance of school safety and security, which includes exploring additional ways to enhance equipment, facilities, training, and procedures."

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