In light of the tragedy at a Connecticut elementary school, I want to assure our students, staff, and community that the Howard County Public School System places the safety of students and staff as our highest priority.

Our schools take a comprehensive approach to ensuring that students have a safe and secure place to learn. Here are just a few of the many things we routinely do to keep our schools safe:

• All schools have emergency plans in place, train staff and hold monthly safety drills, practicing responses to different emergency situations.
• All schools have security cameras that cover the main entrance.
• All school visitors are required to sign in with the main office upon their arrival.
• School Resource Officers (Howard County Police Officers) are currently placed at all high schools and several middle schools. These officers also support elementary schools, as needed.
• All employees wear identification badges.

In the coming weeks, our student services staff is prepared to provide supports for those students who appear to be struggling in coping with the tragedy in Connecticut.

Our schools have excellent relationships with local law enforcement and other agencies, and we have ongoing collaborative reviews of security procedures. You will notice an increased presence of the Howard County Police Department patrol officers as they make frequent checks around our school campuses. We want to reassure our students and staff that we take their safety seriously.

A key to keeping our schools safe is good communication. We constantly encourage community members, students and staff to report suspicious activity or any concerns to school administrators and/or teachers as soon as possible.

Our school system and our partners will continue to do everything we can to ensure that our children and staff are provided a safe, healthy, and supportive environment.

Sincerely,

Dr. Renee A. Foose
Superintendent