Deer Park Superintendent Assures Schools Are Safe

Deer Park School Superintendent Eva Demyen assured that the buildings are safe, after Friday morning’s breaking news that a gunman shot and killed more than two dozen people, including 20 children, at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school shocked the nation and local residents.

"As a district our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the tragedy in Newton, Connecticut. In addition to educating students, our top priority is ensuring that they are growing and learning in a safe and secure environment, and to that end the district has a multitude of safety procedures in place," Demyen said in a statement.

In addition to school security, and security patrols, all school buildings are locked and entry can only be granted through a manual release sensor, she said.

"All guests entering the building must show proper identification to monitors, whose sole responsibility is to screen all entrants, and then document their purpose for being at the respective school. Only, if and when, all of this information is validated are they permitted to proceed."

"If a situation arises, our classroom teachers are trained in
diverse emergency response procedures and are equipped with strategic plans, which are simulated routinely throughout the school year," she said.