Monday, December 17, 2012

A message from Dr. Gainey

Trailblazer Parents,

Here is a message from Dr. Gainey, our Interim Superintendent of WCPSS.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding school saftery here at BRES.  Safety is our top priority.  Thank you, Mrs. Graf

A message from the Superintendent about school safety

Dear WCPSS students, parents and community:

Our hearts remain heavy today as we continue to extend our thoughts and prayers to the community of Newtown, Connecticut, in light of Friday’s tragic events.

I want to assure all families of the Wake County Public School System that safety and academic success are our top priorities for every student.

WCPSS has taken numerous steps to enhance school security at every school site and to strengthen emergency response planning and preparation. These measures include:
  • Site-specific school safety plans
  • Crisis-response measures
  • Annual training and regular drills
  • Law enforcement presence and close monitoring of schools
  • Full-scale drills with law enforcement and emergency responders
In addition, our WCPSS security team and district leaders are reviewing emergency operations plans and procedures in light of this tragic incident. At the school level, principals will be reviewing their site-based crisis plans and protocols with their school staff members.

As we assess school safety, our schools and district-level staff will be reviewing not only our crisis-response planning and training, but also day-to-day security at our 169 schools.

We know that during this time, children may be worried about their safety and the safety of their loved ones. To assist parents in speaking with their children about these concerns, we have posted guidelines from the National Association of School Psychologists.

The well-being of every student is of the utmost importance to me, to our 18,000 employees, and to our school families. Let us continue to work together toward our common goals to ensure that every school is a safe, engaging learning environment that brings out the best potential of every student.

Respectfully,
Dr. Stephen Gainey
Interim Superintendent
Wake County Public School System
Download a copy of Dr. Gainey’s letter >>
Read our previous blog post, For parents: Reassuring your child in times of crisis >>