Cortines, Zimmer reaffirm safety plans at LA Unified schools
Mike Szymanski | December 3, 2015
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In the wake of the mass shooting yesterday in San Bernardino, both LAUSD school superintendent Ramon Cortines and school board president Steve Zimmer today reaffirmed the district’s commitment to safety at local schools.
In a statement, Cortines emphasized, “Every building and school within this District has a safety plan in place.”
Zimmer pointed out that extra support staff and counselors are available for students or staff who are “struggling to cope with the events in San Bernardino.”
Both school leaders said they were saddened by events at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, which left 14 dead and 21 injured.
Cortines said, “I want to remind principals, teachers, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and all employees that if you see something, say something. I also want to assure all parents, students and staff that safety is the top priority of L.A. Unified. There is no threat at our schools at this time. Every building and school within this District has a safety plan in place.”
To assure families in this particularly edgy time, coming on the three-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook shootings that left 26 children and teachers dead, and the more recent mass shootings in Paris and Colorado Springs, Cortines said, “On a daily basis, the Los Angeles School Police Department deploys more than 200 police officers. In addition, public safety and mental health agencies work to ensure there are planning, preparation, response and mitigation for incidents that may affect safety.”
In a separate statement, Zimmer said, “This tragedy hits the education community particularly hard. Regional Centers throughout California are places of hope, help and promise for countless families who have loved ones with special needs. In L.A. Unified, our regional centers are essential partners in fulfilling public education dreams. We will not let today’s violence overtake our hope, nor will we let it overcome our dreams.”
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