Newtown Shootings Spur Meeting to Discuss Safety in North Canton Schools

North Canton City School officials had planned to reevaluate safety procedures in the coming year, but , put those plans on the fast track.

In light of the Dec. 14 shootings that left 27 people dead, North Canton City School District will host a town hall-style meeting to discuss safety and security within the walls of its schools. 

The meeting, led by Superintendent Michael Hartenstein and North Canton Police Chief Stephan Wilder, takes place from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 15 inside Hoover Hall at Hoover High School.

"The intent of the meeting really is for us to get input from folks, to find out their ideas, their thoughts, their concerns, and we'll just sort of capture all of that," Hartenstein said.

He said a handful of people spoke at the district's last board of education meeting, just days after the Newtown shootings on Dec. 19, about their concerns regarding school safety and security.

What comes after the town hall meeting?

"We'll hold focus group meeting in the community and get people to flesh out their ideas and provide greater depth for the things presented to us in that town hall meeting," Hartenstein said.

A community-wide survey could eventually follow the town hall meeting.

Hartenstein spoke to North Canton Patch Thursday just before attending a meeting with district principals to discuss safety and security, including surveillance and door buzzers.

Hartenstein encourages anyone with concerns about school safety to attend the upcoming meeting.