Fresno, Clovis schools review classroom safety in wake of Uvalde shooting
After the deadly mass shooting at a Texas elementary school, Fresno Unified School District Superintendent Bob Nelson released a statement to the community early Wednesday, expressing condolences and reiterating campus safety protocol within the district.
“I beg of each and every one of our Fresno Unified family – if you see something, please SAY SOMETHING. Trust your gut and pay attention to behavior changes and disturbing comments that you hear from others,” Nelson wrote in a media statement.
The shooting claimed the lives of at least 19 children and two teachers, some of whom the superintendent named in his statement. It was carried out by an 18-year-old resident of the community.
“This tragedy is NOT about the shooter, and I will not speak the shooter’s name, however I must recognize the signs that are already unfolding that may have prevented this horrible tragedy,” Nelson wrote.
He also wrote that in recent months, the district has been revisiting its protocols and emergency plans.
“(B)ut even more importantly, we are focused on prevention as we hope we never, ever have to use those emergency plans and protocols,” Nelson wrote.
The superintendent alluded to reports of the shooter’s social media activity in the days leading up to the shooting, urging the Fresno Unified community to report “any concerning comments or behavior.”
Nelson’s statement also comes after an incident last week at Pyle Elementary, when a parent barged into a classroom and confront a teacher. It happened at a time when campus gates were open to allow a “free flow” of students heading to class at the start of the day, district spokesperson Diana Diaz told the Education Lab.
Following that incident, the Fresno Teachers Association called for a campus safety plan from the district and a full investigation into the parent’s ability to enter the classroom during the school day.
In the immediate aftermath, Diaz wrote that the Pyle Elementary administration reviewed safety protocols with all staff and are working on other measures, such as a safety plan.
The superintendent compiled mental health resources for students and staff in his statement, including the district’s referral site, stating that it “is not natural to know how to process tragedies such as this.”
You can find those FUSD resources at this link.
Later on Wednesday, Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Brien also said the district was reviewing “existing safety protocols.”
“Our hearts are breaking for those lost, and for the families and educators whose lives have been forever changed by the actions of one person,” O’Brien said. “Our best prevention of such tragedies lies with our team of teachers, principals, and other staff on our campuses every day and our parent community, and the and the hundreds of eyes and ears that they lend to securing our schools.
“I also want to emphasize that at its core, our work revolves around our people and the supportive and trusting relationships they form with our students so that we learn of concerns early, wrap our students in physical, emotional and social supports, and maximize the eyes and ears of our staff, students, parents and community to keep our schools safe,” she said.
O’Brien also noted CUSD existing safety plans include social-emotional support systems and regular safety drills, “so that our staff and students are very familiar with our procedures designed to immediately protect students and staff.”
A trained team of sworn police officers are also in place in Clovis Unified., providing “another line of defense to protect our schools.”
The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab at its website.
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 9:51 AM.
