Northport Superintendent Addresses Sandy Hook Shooting

Northport-East Northport School District Superintendent Marylou McDermott recently addressed the district's response to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in Connecticut Friday.

The letter was sent out to parents and posted on the district website. The text is as follows:

Dear Northport–East Northport School Community,

I know we are all deeply saddened and disturbed by the tragic events in Newtown Connecticut last Friday. Too many parents and families have suffered an unbearable loss. My thoughts and prayers are with those families as they begin to grieve.

As Superintendent of Schools, I want to assure our families and staff that I, along with the District administrators, continually assess our security procedures and practices and upgrade them on an ongoing basis. Over the past five years, I have hired additional security staff, including a District Supervisor of Security, school greeters at the elementary schools and additional security personnel at the middle schools. In addition, buzzer systems and multiple cameras have been installed in all of our buildings. I remain committed and ever vigilant in my efforts to protect our students and staff.

Our building principals are making Connect-Ed calls to explain how this issue will be addressed in an age-appropriate manner in our schools. As was planned before the tragic events on Friday, I will be meeting with the District’s principals and administrators tomorrow to continue our discussions on this most important topic.

In this final week before the December recess, I have directed that additional security personnel be assigned throughout the District.

There will also be additional resources for parents on the District’s website tomorrow. Please know that we assume our collective role “in loco parentis” (in the place of a parent) very seriously while your children are in our care.

Sincerely, Dr. Marylou McDermott Superintendent of Schools

Northport Patch recently interviewed Northport-East Northport Security Supervisor Nolan Briggs about security procedures and preparedness. You can read his commentary here.