Perrysburg schools assure parents district is safe - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Local schools are going over their safety procedures in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre. The Superintendent of Perrysburg Schools sent out a letter reassuring parents, staff and the community that students are safe. 

"We have a general message we read to all the elementary school students," says Superintendent Thomas Hosler. "It didn't mention the event by name. It didn't mention shooting or anything like that, but what it did say was we care about you, and you are safe here."

There's no doubt the images from the school massacre will be played out over and over for the next few weeks.

Mina Briggs' daughter is a teacher in the district. Her grandkids also attend Perrysburg Schools.

"It's really a difficult situation, and I think Perrysburg Schools does a wonderful job," she says. But Briggs questions the available resources for mental health.

"I think it needs to be reviewed, because this boy obviously needed a lot of help," she says.

The shooting of innocent first graders also has school districts looking at their security procedures.

Superintendent Hosler can't talk about their procedures for safety reasons, but he says some employees recently had training

"A month ago we had our bus drivers trained if somebody boards the bus upset or agitated, how do you respond to that," he says.

Hosler believes the best way to prevent similar tragedies is an open line of communication between students and teachers.

"Developing a culture where students and others feel comfortable saying ‘I heard this,' I saw this,' he says. "That's our first line and best line of defense."

Click here for tips from the National Association of School Psychologists on supporting youth after a crisis event.