The CIty Schools of Decatur sent around this letter from Dr. Phyllis Edwards yesterday evening…

Dear CSD Parents, Staff and Community,

The City Schools of Decatur is deeply saddened by the horrific events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday. It is difficult to comprehend what happened and the long road ahead as this community heals. Schools are the heart of every community, particularly small communities. This tragedy has resonated deeply with parents and educators, and City Schools of Decatur mourns for the families and community of Newtown, Connecticut.

We want to assure our families and community that there are safety and security procedures in place to protect CSD students and staff. All of our schools have safety preparedness plans that cover any potential emergency that might happen, including an intrusion. We work closely with Chief Booker and the Decatur Police Department to review our safety plans. Central Office members and principals met Monday to go over the plans to see if there are any areas we need to strengthen.

In light of the tragedy in Connecticut, we are implementing a mid-term review of our safety plans. I have provided each principal with a Safety Assessment Instrument from the Georgia Department of Education that is a self-assessment of procedures and facilities. When we return from the holiday break, we will examine the assessments and make any recommended modifications to our plans and facilities to promote an even more secure school environment.

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