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Neighboring schools shift into high alert
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - February 29, 2012)
Neighboring schools shift into high alert
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
News of Monday's fatal shootings at Chardon High School sent shock waves through neighboring school districts as officials looked to provide assurances that their students are safe.
Neighboring Newbury, Berkshire and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin schools were on heightened alert after the deadly events played out at Chardon High School, where five students were shot, three of them fatally.
Newbury School Superintendent Richard Wagner said, after news began filtering through school, officials contacted the Geauga County Sheriff's Department to seek advice. With sheriff's deputies responding to the emergency in Chardon and Newbury's township police department disbanded several years ago, he said, the school was left on its own.
Mr. Wagner said Newbury school officials questioned whether their school should go into "lock-down." But they were reassured that there was no need, because the suspected Chardon gunman had been apprehended.
He said officials attempted to get control of the "rumor mill" and concentrated on giving students as much of a normal school day as possible.
Mr. Wagner said school administrators patrolled the halls and kept a watch for any students who may be having difficulty dealing with the news. He said one student was counseled and was feeling better by the end of the day.
On Tuesday, Mr. Wagner said, another short meeting was held to emphasize to staff that they should again keep watch for students whose behaviors or feelings might require some intervention. "We just want to give our students as normal an experience as possible," he said.
Burton Mayor Nicholas Fischbach began Monday's Village Council meeting with condolences for the families who suffered at the hands of the gunman. "It is a terrible day in Geauga County," he said. He sent a note to Chardon city officials, offering any assistance his community could give there, he said.
"Everything is good here," Mr. Fischbach said of Burton and the Berkshire schools there. "The kids are safe, and the teachers are safe."
Burton Police Chief Richard Smigelski said he increased police presence at Burton Elementary School and Berkshire High School during the day. He said the school was placed in "soft lock-down" with the locking of perimeter doors. He said officers continued to track students during the school day and escorted them to their cars at the close of the day.
Mr. Smigelski said he was in constant contact with School Superintendent Douglas Delong and the school principals throughout the day.
At Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in Munson, Principal Joseph A. Waler said additional staff filtered throughout the grounds as news of the tragedy spread upon students' arrival on the campus.
"This morning's events heightened our awareness of anything unusual on our campus," Mr. Waler said. "Within minutes of getting the news of the shooting, we assigned additional staff members to our entrances and parking lots. Those locations are supervised by teachers every school day."
Safety precautions are taken every day at the school, Mr. Waler said. "Each day, all unattended outside doors are locked after students arrive," he said. "Visitors gain entry only after being identified on our video security system. Our teachers also keep their classroom door locks in the locked position so that all of our students can be locked down in a matter of seconds."
Mr. Waler said, as students arrived, they repeatedly asked that prayers be said for students, parents and staff of Chardon High School, and school officials complied.
"May God pour out his love on our friends and neighbors at Chardon High School, especially those who were injured this morning," he said. "May God also bless Geauga County's wonderful safety forces, who work tirelessly each day to keep all of us safe."
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