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COUNTY SCHOOLS: Making a call on incidents

Parents have a right to be sensitive about what happens in their children’s schools. They have seen and read about the horror and heartbreak, most recently with the shootings in Florida.

It is why school board meetings in the last 30 days — in Forestville and Westfield — have focused on incidents involving potential dangers. In Westfield, a 13-year-old was charged with third-degree menacing after being found with a knife while Forestville was dealing with the aftermath of a lockout in early February.

In both cases, it is better for the district to be honest with parents — and the community — as soon as possible. “I think you’re right about that. Ultimately I erred in not getting the word out,” Westfield schools Superintendent David Davison said about the incident. “That will change in the future.”

These two incidents are lessons for all districts. All schools have purchased with your tax dollars systems that can alert parents when school is closed. This same system needs to be utilized to communicate any incident that involves safety.

It would be a positive step in public relations — and prevent superintendents, like Davison, from having to regret not being proactive with the community.

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