PCSSD reviews safety procedures

Parents in Central Arkansas sent their children to school Monday with the fear of what happened in Connecticut not far from their minds.

The Superintendent of the Pulaski County Special School District says safety is the district's number one priority and certain measures are in place. Dr. Jerry Guess says he is reminding students, staff, teachers, and parents to increase their sense of awareness. "I think it's important to point out schools are one of the safest places in our nation. There are more than 100,000 schools in our country and we certainly don't have these kinds of events happen often."

Dr. Guess says every school is taking extra safety precautions and reviewing the standard operating procedures for emergency situations. "I think our instructional and support staff is the greatest assets we have in our efforts."

The district has security officers on campuses, locked exterior doors, restricted visitor access and highly trained staff. "I think the public should know that teachers really are at the heart of our efforts to work with their kids, and our teachers do a great job."

Markell Foreman says he's more aware now of the security in place at his child's school. "They actually had different safety parameters that I noticed today. They checked in all the students and parents coming and going, making sure they signed in and out at the front door."

Joe Miller says it's reassuring to know his children are safe at school. "I'm very comfortable with the safety at our school. I've been questioned on campus about who I am, and who I'm there to see, so I feel very comfortable about my kids going to school."

Dr. Guess says there is no need to increase the number of security officers at any particular school unless there is an emergency that would call for additional resources.

The district says attendance numbers were the same Monday as any other given day, so if any parents kept their kids home due to fear about what happened in Connecticut, it went unnoticed.