Albany School Board Passes Updated Safety Plans After Texas Shooting

SEE MORE:ALBANY, CA — The Albany Unified School District Board of Education passed updated safety plans for all campuses following the Uvalde shootings, Superintendent Frank Wells told families.

“As your Superintendent, I have a responsibility to keep students safe. At the Board of Education meeting last night, as we struggled to process the tragic news, the Board passed updated safety plans for all campuses that will be posted to school websites in the near future,” Wells told families Tuesday afternoon.

The Uvalde shootings occurred on the same day that a 14-year-old student was battered while walking to school in Albany. Police are still looking for the suspect, whom the victim described as a Black male adult 40-50 years old of medium build, with a black and gray stubble beard, wearing a blue jacket and gray sweatpants. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Albany Police Department at 510-525-7300.

Wells also shared resources to help parents and guardians attempt to explain a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 19 fourth graders.

• How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings (Common Sense Media)
• Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a School Shooting (American Psychological Association)
• Helping Children Cope with Frightening News (Childmind.org)
• Talking to Kids About Racism and Violence (Childmind.org)
• Buffalo: How to Talk with Young People (Anti-Defamation League)

“At times it seems like the level of tragedy in our world is too much to bear. I offer my deepest condolences to all of those affected by this violence—those directly affected and the rest of us who have no direct connection to the victims, but are still filled with heartache and despair,” Wells said.

Wells also encouraged families to contact local and national leaders in the wake of two mass shootings in less than two weeks. “The gun violence afflicting our schools and public places requires more than hearts and prayers’ and resources to help heal the damage,” he said.

SEE MORE:

• Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims
• Texas School Shooting: Live Updates In Photos
• Texas Shooting Prompts CA Senate To Pass Bill Targeting Assault Guns
• 'Enough!' Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Gives Impassioned Plea On Shooting